Roberto Balado

Cuban boxer (1969–1994)
Roberto Balado
Balado in 1990
Personal information
Full nameRoberto Balado Mendez
Nationality Cuba
Born(1969-02-15)15 February 1969
Jovellanos, Matanzas Province
Died2 July 1994(1994-07-02) (aged 25)
Havana, Ciudad de la Habana
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight100 kg (220 lb)
Sport
SportBoxing
Weight classSuper Heavyweight
Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 0 0
World Championships 3 0 0
Youth World Championships 1 0 0
World Cup 2 0 0
Pan American Games 1 0 0
Central American and Caribbean Games 1 0 0
Central America and Caribbean Championships 1 0 0
Total 10 0 0
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Super Heavyweight
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Moscow Super Heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 1991 Sydney Super Heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 1993 Tampere Super Heavyweight
Youth World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1987 Havana Heavyweight
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1990 Bombay Super Heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 1994 Bangkok Super Heavyweight
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1991 Havana Super Heavyweight
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 1993 Ponce Super Heavyweight
Central America and Caribbean Championships
Gold medal – first place 1987 San José Heavyweight

Roberto Balado Méndez (15 February 1969 – 2 July 1994) was a Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1986 to 1994. At the 1992 Summer Olympics he won a Gold medal in the men's super heavyweight (+91 kg).

A natural heavyweight, he was Olympic champion (Barcelona 1992), three times world champion (Moscow 1989, Sydney 1991, and Tampere 1993), and five times Cuban national champion. He was also the winner of the Val Barker Trophy for Outstanding Boxer at the 1992 Olympic Games.

Balado was at his prime, looking forward to win many forthcoming events, considered by some boxing experts to be the world's second-best fighter after Félix Savón (who competed one weight division below),[1] and being one of the favourites of the 1995 Pan American Games and 1996 Olympics, but died in a car accident.

At the time of his death, age 25, he had 250 fights, with a record of 238 victories, and 12 losses.

Early years

Balado was born in Jovellanos, Matanzas, on 15 February 1969. Before his first birthday, the family came to live in Old Havana and shortly thereafter they moved to the El Palenque neighborhood (La Lisa), next to the La Lisa bridge.

He was 14 when he took up boxing, and soon participated in the National School Games.

Career

In 1984, Cuba's long-time Olympic heavyweight Teófilo Stevenson, although retaining physical strength and staying in shape, and even aspiring to win the fourth gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games (which Cuba ultimately boycotted,) already needed to pass the torch and find a suitable alternate for the Cuban National Boxing Team.

Raúl Fernández's promotional transfer to the Orbeín Quesada training center, headquarters of the National Athletic Selection, played a decisive role in the formation and subsequent consecration of Balado.

Regarding the Balado's ascent to the national team, Alcides Sagarra pointed out: "Raúl spoke with me of the boy and without any hesitation I agreed to get him trained in the 'Finca.' He began to show progress and very soon his was something more than just learning. He was always willing to help in the sparrings, and he didn't care about the name of the opponent in front of him."

Cuban sport officials questioned the decision to include Balado as the Cuban representative in the superheavyweight class to compete at the 1989 World Championships in Moscow, but he proved the critics wrong and won the event.

Highlights

2nd place, silver medalist(s) XXV Playa Girón National Championships (91 kg), San Jose de las Lajas, Cuba, January 1986:

  • 1/8: Defeated Ambrosio Moro (Cuba) RSCH 2
  • 1/4: Defeated Wilder Cervantes (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • 1/2: Defeated Francisco Bouly (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • Finals: Lost to Félix Savón (Cuba) KO 2

1st place, gold medalist(s) Golden Belt Tournament (91 kg), Bucharest, Romania, 1986:

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXII Friendship Games (+81 kg), Szolnok, Hungary, August 1986:

  • Finals: Defeated Tigran Terterian (Soviet Union) RSC 1

2nd place, silver medalist(s) XXVI Playa Girón National Championships (91 kg), Holguín, Cuba, January 1987:

  • 1/16: Defeated Alberto Almeida (Cuba) RSCH 1
  • 1/8: Defeated Reinaldo Dreke (Cuba) RSC 1
  • 1/4: Defeated Juan Cause Delis (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • 1/2: Defeated Victor Ispuria (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • Finals: Lost to Félix Savón (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 0–5

Gee-Bee Tournament (91 kg), Helsinki, Finland, April 1987:

  • Defeated Georgy Likov (Bulgaria) by decision
  • Defeated Gytis Juškevičius (Soviet Union) KO 3
  • Lost to Yevgeniy Sudakov (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 0–5

1st place, gold medalist(s) Intercup (91 kg), Hemsbach, West Germany, April 1987:

  • 1/2: Defeated Wiesław Dyła (Poland) by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • Finals: Defeated Fred Kaddu (Uganda) by unanimous decision, 5–0

1st place, gold medalist(s) Golden Belt Tournament (91 kg), Bucharest, Romania, 1987:

  • Finals: Defeated Petr Bornescu (Romania) by decision

1st place, gold medalist(s) IV Youth World Championships (91 kg), Havana, Cuba, June 1987:

  • 1/4: Defeated Frank Beckström (East Germany) RSC 1
  • 1/2: Defeated Peter Stettinger (West Germany) RSC 3
  • Finals: Defeated Vyacheslav Sedov (Soviet Union) RSC 3

1st place, gold medalist(s) Simón Bolivar Cup (+81 kg), Caracas, Venezuela, September 1987:

  • Finals: Defeated A. Golotyan (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 5–0

1st place, gold medalist(s) XVIII Central America and the Caribbean Championships (91 kg), San José, Costa Rica, November 1987:

  • Finals: Defeated Emilio Payne (Costa Rica) RSC 2

2nd place, silver medalist(s) XXVII Playa Girón National Championships (91 kg), Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, January 1988:

  • 1/8: Defeated Pedro Montalvo (Cuba) by majority decision, 4–1
  • 1/4: Defeated Daniel Alonso Zamora (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • 1/2: Defeated Juan Cause Delis (Cuba) by split decision, 3–2
  • Finals: Lost to Félix Savón (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 0–5

2nd place, silver medalist(s) XXXIX Strandzha Cup (91 kg), Sofia, Bulgaria, February 1988:

2nd place, silver medalist(s) XXVIII Playa Girón National Championships (91 kg), Guantánamo, Cuba, January 1989:

  • 1/16: Defeated Jose Sayu (Cuba) RSC 2
  • 1/8: Defeated Pedro Montalvo (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • 1/4: Defeated Raul Gonzalez (Cuba) RET 2
  • 1/2: Defeated Juan Cause Delis (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • Finals: Lost to Félix Savón (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 0–5

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (+91 kg), Pinar del Río, Cuba, June 1989:

  • 1/4: Defeated Sergey Kravchenko (Soviet Union) by decision
  • 1/2: Defeated Roberto Camilo (Cuba) by decision
  • Finals: Defeated Armando Camouzano (Cuba) by decision

1st place, gold medalist(s) VII Military Spartakiad of the Friendly Armies of the Socialist Countries (+91 kg), Sliven, Bulgaria, June 1989:

  • Finals: Defeated Sergey Kravchenko (Soviet Union) by majority decision, 4–1

1st place, gold medalist(s) World Championships (+91 kg), Moscow, Soviet Union, September 1989:

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXIX Playa Girón National Championships (+91 kg), Cienfuegos, Cuba, January 1990:

  • 1/8: Defeated Livan Álvarez (Cuba) 33–7
  • 1/4: Defeated Osvaldo Castillo (Cuba) RSC 3
  • 1/2: Defeated Fidel César (Cuba) PTS
  • Finals: Defeated Armando Camouzano (Cuba) 61–23

AIBA World Championships Challenge (+91 kg), Berlin, Germany, March 1990:

XXIII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (+91 kg), Manzanillo, Cuba, May 1990:

  • 1/8: Defeated Adonis Conti (Cuba) KO 1
  • 1/4: Lost to Roberto Camilo (Cuba) DQ 2

U.S. Olympic Cup, North America–Europe Duals (+91 kg), Exhibition Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 1990:

  • Defeated Bert Teuchert (Germany) by unanimous decision, 3–0 (5 rds)

II Goodwill Games (+91 kg), Seattle, Washington, July 1990:

  • 1/4: Lost to Yevgeniy Belousov (Soviet Union) RSCI 1 (Balado badly cut in the corner of right eye leading the referee to stop the bout)

2nd place, silver medalist(s) TSC Tournament (+91 kg), Berlin, East Germany, October 1990:

1st place, gold medalist(s) IV World Cup (+91 kg), Bombay, India, November 1990:

  • 1/8: Defeated Maik Heydeck (Germany) PTS (5 rds)
  • 1/4: Defeated Raj Kumar Sangwan (India) PTS (5 rds)
  • 1/2: Defeated Vernon Linklater (Canada) RET 3
  • Finals: Defeated Svilen Rusinov (Bulgaria) 18–12

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXX Playa Girón National Championships (+91 kg), Camagüey, Cuba, January 1991:

  • 1/16: Defeated Ramon Marino (Cuba) RSC 1
  • 1/8: Defeated Juan Quesada (Cuba) 25–5
  • 1/4: Defeated Adonis Conti (Cuba) 35–6
  • 1/2: Defeated Alexis Rubalcaba (Cuba) 14–5
  • Finals: Defeated Armando Camouzano (Cuba) 16–9

AIBA World Championships Challenge (+91 kg), Bangkok, Thailand, February 1991:

  • Defeated Vartan Vartanyan (Soviet Union) 45–12 (5 rds)

1st place, gold medalist(s) King's Cup (+91 kg), Bangkok, Thailand, April 1991

  • Finals: Defeated (no data available)

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXIV Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (+91 kg), Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, June 1991:

  • 1/4: Defeated Freddy Reguerifero (Cuba) 26–0
  • 1/2: Defeated Roberto Camilo (Cuba) 18–3
  • Finals: Defeated Juan Cause Delis (Cuba) 6–4

1st place, gold medalist(s) XI Pan American Games (+91 kg), Havana, Cuba, August 1991:

1st place, gold medalist(s) World Championships (+91 kg), Sydney, Australia, November 1991:

XXXI Playa Girón National Championships (+91 kg), Pinar del Río, Cuba, January 1992:

  • 1/16: Defeated Adonis Conti (Cuba) 34–7
  • 1/8: Defeated Osvaldo Castillo (Cuba) 19–0
  • 1/4: Defeated Luis Lazaro Ulacia (Cuba) 13–2
  • 1/2: Defeated Armando Campuzano (Cuba) 11–1
  • Finals: Not contested Leonardo Martínez Fizz (Cuba)

1st place, gold medalist(s) BOXAM Cup (+91 kg), Barcelona, Spain, February 1992:

  • 1/2: Defeated Tom Glesby (Canada) 9–3
  • Finals: Defeated José Ortega (Spain) RSC 2

AIBA World Championships Challenge (+91 kg), Tampa, Florida, March 1992:

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXV Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (+91 kg), Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, May 1992:

  • 1/8: Defeated Juan Cause Delis (Cuba) 7–1
  • 1/4: Defeated Alexis Rubalcaba (Cuba) 8–2
  • 1/2: Defeated Adonis Conti (Cuba) 23–11
  • Finals: Defeated Osvaldo Castillo (Cuba) 21–4

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXV Summer Olympics (+91 kg), Barcelona, Spain, July 1992:

  • 1/16: Defeated Tom Glesby (Canada) 16–2
  • 1/4: Defeated Larry Donald (United States) 10–4
  • 1/2: Defeated Brian Nielsen (Denmark) 15–1
  • Finals: Defeated Richard Igbineghu (Nigeria) 13–2 (won the Outstanding Boxer trophy)

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXXII Playa Girón National Championships (+91 kg), Matanzas, Cuba, January 1993:

  • 1/8: Defeated Arnaldo Alfonso (Cuba) 24–0
  • 1/4: Defeated Frank González (Cuba) RSC 1 (1:44)
  • 1/2: Defeated Luis Lazaro Ulacia (Cuba) 14–5
  • Finals: Defeated Roberto Camilo (Cuba) 11–0

AIBA World Championships Challenge (+91 kg), Istanbul, Turkey, February 1993:

Europe–North America Duals (+91 kg), Berlin, Germany, March 1993:

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXVI Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (+91 kg), Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, May 1993:

  • 1/4: Defeated Osvaldo Castillo (Cuba) 5–0
  • 1/2: Defeated Leonardo Enrich (Cuba) 6–0
  • Finals: Defeated Armando Camouzano (Cuba) 8–2

1st place, gold medalist(s) VII World Championships (+91 kg), Tampere, Finland, June 1993:

Cuba–USA Duals (+91 kg), Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, September 1993:

  • Defeated Ed Mahone (United States) by unanimous decision, 5–0

1st place, gold medalist(s) XVII Central American and Caribbean Games (+91 kg), Ponce, Puerto Rico, November 1993:

  • 1/4: Defeated Harold Arroyo (Puerto Rico) RSCH 1
  • 1/2: Defeated Anibal González (Dominican Republic) RSC 1
  • Finals: Defeated Rómulo Suárez (Venezuela) RSC 1

XXXIII Playa Girón National Championships (+91 kg), Ciego de Avila, Cuba, January 1994:

  • 1/8: Defeated Isbey Rodriguez (Cuba) RSC 2
  • 1/4: Defeated Juan Ortega (Cuba) RET 2
  • 1/2: Defeated Luis Lazaro Ulacia (Cuba) 8–2
  • Finals: Not contested Leonardo Martínez Fizz (Cuba)

AIBA World Championships Challenge (+91 kg), Dublin, Ireland, March 1994:

  • Defeated Yevgeniy Belousov (Russia) by split decision, 3–2 (5 rds)

1st place, gold medalist(s) XXVII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (+91 kg), Cienfuegos, Cuba, May 1994:

  • 1/2: Defeated Raj Kumar Sangwan (India) RET 1
  • Finals: Defeated Luis Lazaro Ulacia (Cuba) PTS

1st place, gold medalist(s) VIII World Cup (+91 kg), Bangkok, Thailand, June 1994:

Death

On 2 July 1994, Roberto Balado was driving to train at the headquarters of the Cuban team at the Holveín Quesada National School of Boxing (Escuela Nacional de Boxeo “Holveín Quesada,”) but didn't make it as he died in a crash at a train crossing in Havana.

References

  1. ^ CUBAN AMATEUR BOXING STAR KILLED IN ACCIDENT Deseret News.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roberto Balado.
  • Boxing record for Roberto Balado from BoxRec (registration required)
  • Roberto Balado Partial Record (Amateur Boxing Results)
  • Amateur career of Roberto Balado (in Spanish) compiled by Pedro Cabrera Isidrón of the Cuban Olympics Committee. Last updated: 17 September 2008
  • Roberto Balado at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
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