CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Francisco “Morochito” Rodríguez, the boxer who won Venezuela’s first Olympic gold medal, died Tuesday at age 78. Venezuela’s Olympic Committee confirmed Rodriguez’ death on Wednesday on its social media channels but did not provide details. Local media reported he had been hospitalized in Caracas due to anemia. At the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, Rodríguez won gold in the light flyweight division by beating South Korea’s Jee Yong-Ju in the final bout. Rodríguez also won gold medals at the 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games. Rodriguez was the second born of 14 children. He started boxing at age 11. The second Venezuelan to win an Olympic gold medal was fencer Rubén Limardo at the London Olympics in 2012. |
Wellington job market already tough before public sector redundanciesNY police to pay $17.5m over hijab mugshot rowWellington City Council votes to increase housing densityBiden takes on Trump over Russia, democracy in fiery State of the Union addressMore videos of Kiwi hostage Philip Mehrtens in Papua warn against Indonesian military air strikesPrincess of Wales Kate having chemotherapy after cancer discoveryIsrael dismisses UN resolution on possible war crimes as 'distorted text'Companies 'not interested' in publicIsrael dismisses UN resolution on possible war crimes as 'distorted text''Rust' armorer called 'sloppy,' defense says she's a scapegoat