Former two division world titleholder Antonio Cermeno was reportedly found dead after being kidnapped early this morning in his home country of Venezuela. He was only 45. He appeared a couple of Don King undercards in the mid to late 90's; and based on what I saw of him, looked to be a good solid technician in the mold of someone like Anselmo Moreno. Didn't see a thread devoted to this topic, so created one, because fighters like El Coloso deserve to be remembered. Go easy, Antonio.
Caracas itself? That could apply to the entire continent of S. America as well. Any successful athlete seems to carry a target on their back. You hear of too many of them, mostly soccer players with boxers a close runner-up, having **** like this happen. I don't see why any sports figure after making it big and earning some cash would go back home to live out their quiet years with that kind of risk. Get a condo in Florida and be at least relatively safe...fly out the family of you can afford it...:verysad
Unfortunately, "making it big" in boxing does not always equal to getting rich. Recent example, James Page pleading guilty to bank robbery and facing upwards of 20 years behind bars.:-(
Well, "big" in context of where they come from. Isn't that what makes them marks for kidnappers? I know with the abducted soccer players it's almost always a ransom situation. You're right, though, most boxers (even world champs) aren't exactly swimming in cash during their latter years...but I guess every little scrap the greedy SOB's can get their hands on they'll go after, so it might be that whatever guys like Cermeño are left with after they retire is still enough to make them seem 'rich' or like attractive victims to criminals. :conf Do we know this yet?
I just read that post-retirement, Cermeño was active in social work for young Venezuelan sportsmen and helped introduce and develop boxing programs for youths from the streets. :verysad So I guess that explains why he at least went back home. ...and this is his reward for his deeds. Sickening.
RIP Antonio Cermeno. I remember reading about him in boxing magazines in the nineties when there were like ten different publications going. From what I read he was a solid technician.
