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.
Penn State's leading receiver KeAndre Lambert
Hezbollah field commander, 3 fighters killed in Israeli strikes in S. Lebanon
Xi Signs Order to Promulgate Revised Regulations on Military Legislation
7.3 magnitude quake strikes Taiwan
Lions agree to contract extensions with St. Brown and Sewell worth combined $200M, AP source says
Premier calls on Europe to provide fair business environment
Several Iranian airports cancel flights until Monday
Number of foreign visitors to China sees significant rebound
Who's made the cut for Meghan's new Montecito inner circle? Polo wives, Britney Spears' ex
Xi Focus: Xi Stresses Boosting High