Jorge Hernandez, Cuban Boxing Champ, 65

(ATR) Montreal Olympic boxing champion, Cuban Jorge Hernandez died December 12 in Havana. He was 65.

For more than two weeks Hernandez had been hospitalized in the Cuban capital for a cardiorespiratory arrest from which he could not recover.

Hernandez, a native of Havana, won his 1976 crown in the 48 kg division. His was one of the three gold medals of Cuba in a disputed Olympic tournament won by the United States with five titles. The U.S. team may have been one of the best ever fielded for the Olympics, including Leo Randolph, Ray Leonard, Howard Davies and brothers Michael and Leon Spinks.

Two years before Montreal Hernández won the World Championship organized by AIBA in Havana in 1974.

The Cuban champion also won gold at the Pan American Games in Mexico City in 1975.

After his retirementhe went on to coach the national selection directed by Alcides Sagarra between 1991 and 2013.

Among his pupils Hernandez had Yuriorquis Gamboa who was an Olympic champion in Athens 2004.

In 2015 Hernández was the host of Floyd Mayweather on a private visit of only a few hours, traveling to Havana in his private plane

Some US media speculated that Mayweather went to Cuba as an envoy of the manager Al Haymon. He represented more than 50 professional boxers including some Cubans, possibly interested in making boxing deals in Cuba.

"There was no business talk or requests for boxers. He only came to Cuba because he wanted to meet me," Jorgito told this reporter when interviewing Hernandez after the visit.

Reported in Ft. Lauderdale by Miguel Hernandez.