Francisco Rodríguez (boxer, born 1945)

Francisco Antonio Rodríguez Brito (20 September 1945 – 23 April 2024) was a Venezuelan boxer. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City he won the gold medal in the inaugural men's light flyweight (– 48 kg) division, in addition to claiming the gold at the 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games. He carried the flag for his native country at the opening ceremony at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. Rodríguez died on 23 April 2024, at the age of 78.[1]

Francisco Rodríguez
Rodríguez in 1968
Personal information
Full nameFrancisco Antonio Rodríguez Brito
NicknameMorochito
Born(1945-09-20)20 September 1945
Cumaná, Sucre, Venezuela
Died23 April 2024(2024-04-23) (aged 78)
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight132 lb (60 kg)
Sport
SportBoxing
Weight classLight Flyweight and Flyweight
Medal record
Representing  Venezuela
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City Light flyweight
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg Flyweight
Gold medal – first place 1971 Cali Flyweight

Amateur career

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Rodriguez, nicknamed "Morochito", was Venezuela's first Olympic gold medalist, winning gold in the light flyweight division in its inaugural year of competition, 1968. His amateur record stood at 266 wins, 4 losses.

After the Olympics, Rodríguez signed a professional contract. Before fighting he took his mother to a pro bout. At one point, one of the boxers' bloody mouthpieces landed in Rodriguez's mother's lap. She begged Rodriguez to give up fighting and he cancelled his contract.

Olympic results

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Mexico City – 1968

Munich – 1972

Honors

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Rodríguez was inducted into the Venezuelan Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

References

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  • Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Francisco Rodríguez". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008.