Francisco Rodríguez (boxer, born 1945)
{{Short description|Venezuelan boxer (1945–2024)}}
{{about|the Venezuelan boxer|the Mexican boxer|Francisco Rodriguez (boxer, born 1984)}}
{{family name hatnote|Rodríguez|Brito|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox boxer (amateur)|
| name=Francisco Rodríguez
| image=Francisco «Morochito» Rodríguez.jpg
| image_size=
| caption = Rodríguez in 1968
| fullname = Francisco Antonio Rodríguez Brito
| nicknames = Morochito
| weight class = Light Flyweight and Flyweight
| club =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1945|09|20}}
| birth_place = Cumaná, Sucre, Venezuela
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2024|04|23|1945|09|20}}
| death_place =
| height = {{height|m=1.74|precision=0}}
| weight = {{convert|132|lb|kg}}
| medaltemplates=
{{MedalCountry | {{VEN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalGold| 1968 Mexico City | Light flyweight}}
{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}
{{MedalGold | 1967 Winnipeg | Flyweight}}
{{MedalGold | 1971 Cali | Flyweight}}
}}
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.[https://www.liderendeportes.com/noticias/mas-deportes/boxeo/fallecio-morochito-rodriguez/ Falleció “Morochito” Rodríguez] {{in lang|es}}
Amateur career
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
Mexico City – 1968
- Round of 32: bye
- Round of 16: Defeated Rafael Carbonell (Cuba) on points, 5-0
- Quarterfinal: Defeated Hatha Karunaratne (Ceylon) by a second-round TKO
- Semifinal: Defeated Harlan Marbley (United States) on points, 4-1
- Final: Defeated Jee Yong-Ju (South Korea) on points, 3-2 (won gold medal)
Munich – 1972
- Lost to Dennis Talbot (Australia) KO 2
Honors
Rodríguez was inducted into the Venezuelan Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ro/francisco-rodriguez-1.html |title=Francisco Rodríguez |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223010034/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ro/francisco-rodriguez-1.html |archive-date=23 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}
{{Olympic Champions Boxing Light Flyweight}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions Flyweight}}
{{Venezuela athletes winners at the Olympics Games}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Francisco}}
Category:Sportspeople from Cumaná
Category:Boxers at the 1967 Pan American Games
Category:Boxers at the 1971 Pan American Games
Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Venezuela
Category:Boxers at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Category:Boxers at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic boxers for Venezuela
Category:Olympic gold medalists for Venezuela
Category:Olympic medalists in boxing
Category:Medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Category:Venezuelan male boxers
Category:Pan American Games medalists in boxing
Category:Medalists at the 1967 Pan American Games
Category:Medalists at the 1971 Pan American Games
Category:20th-century Venezuelan sportsmen
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