Florentino Fernández (boxer) facts for kids

Florentino "the Ox" Fernández (born March 7, 1936 – died January 28, 2013) was a famous Cuban middleweight boxer. He was known for his powerful punches and was often called "The Ox" because of his strength. He also had nicknames in the Cuban community like "3 Toneles" (3 Barrels) and "El Barbaro del Knock Out" (The Knockout Barbarian). Florentino fought professionally from 1956 to 1972, winning 50 fights, with 43 of those wins coming by knockout.

Florentino's Boxing Journey

Florentino Fernández was born in Santiago de Cuba. He was known for his strong left hook, which helped him win many fights. These victories soon led to a big opportunity: a chance to fight for the world middleweight title.

Fighting for the Title

On August 5, 1961, 25-year-old Florentino fought against Gene Fullmer for the middleweight championship. The fight took place in Ogden, Utah. It was a very close match, and Florentino lost by a "split decision." This means that some judges thought he won, but more judges scored the fight for Fullmer.

After the fight, Florentino really wanted a rematch. However, a boxing writer named Al Buck explained why a rematch in Cuba would be difficult. At that time, there were political tensions, and it was thought that a fight in Cuba might not be safe for a non-Cuban boxer. Because of these reasons, Florentino never got his rematch. Still, he earned a good amount of money from the fight, including a share of the ticket sales and pay-per-view earnings.

Life After Boxing in Cuba

Later, professional boxing became illegal in Cuba. Florentino then moved to Miami Beach, Florida, where he continued his boxing career. He became very popular with fans who watched his fights on television. Many of his matches ended quickly, either with him knocking out his opponent or being knocked out himself.

Notable Fights

One of Florentino's most remembered fights was a quick knockout loss to Rubin "Hurricane" Carter in 1962. The fight lasted only a few seconds.

However, Florentino showed his strength by coming back the next year. On May 26, 1963, he knocked out the undefeated José Torres in five rounds. Torres later became a world light-heavyweight champion.

First Retirement and Return to Boxing

In 1967, after a knockout loss, Florentino announced he was retiring from boxing. He said that personal problems, possibly related to the political situation in Cuba, affected his performance.

After retiring, he worked as a dishwasher and busboy. But he soon decided to return to boxing, this time as a light heavyweight. He surprised many people by winning against strong opponents like Florida Middleweight Champion Jimmy Williams and Jerry Evans.

It seemed like Florentino might get another chance at a title fight against the light heavyweight champion Bob Foster. But in 1972, he was stopped in the 10th round by Vernon McIntosh, which ended his comeback hopes.

Life After Boxing

In the early 1980s, Florentino Fernández briefly coached young amateur boxers. He shared his knowledge and experience at the Elizabeth Virrick Gym in Coconut Grove, Florida.

Honors and Legacy

Florentino Fernández was known for his powerful punches. In 2003, Ring Magazine, a well-known boxing publication, included him on their list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time. This shows how respected he was for his knockout power.

His Passing

Florentino Fernández passed away on January 28, 2013, in Miami, Florida, after having a heart attack.