Leonardo Martinez Fizz
Leonardo Martinez Fizz
Does anyone know what happened to this Cuban heavyweight? He at one time was supposed to have a record of 100-0.
Re: Leonardo Martinez Fizz
Leonardo Martinez Fizz lost towouter wrote:Does anyone know what happened to this Cuban heavyweight? He at one time was supposed to have a record of 100-0.
-Vasili Melnikov (LATVIA, 3 DQ, 1995 WC Berlin)
-Pedro Carrion (CUB, pts, 2001 Santiago de Cuba)
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locoxelbox
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 04 Oct 2004, 12:26
Martinez Fizz' career was hampered by shoulder injuries and disciplinary problems. He first injuried his right shoulder in a Cuba-USA dual meet in 1987, he managed to stop his opponent, Tevin George, with only his left hand. Fizz was supposed to be the Cuban super heavy at the 1988 Olympics (having beaten Jorge Luis Gonzalez) but of course the cubans boycotted those games. He injuried his shoulder again before the 1989 World Championships, leaving room for Roberto Balado to reign the super heavies for many years.
At the 1992 and 1994 Cuban Championships, the "Playa Giron" tournament, they were separated at the draw and both were awarded a gold medal
Alcides Sagarra, the legendary Cuban headcoach, said it was meaningless that they fought in the ring. Martinez Fizz could get injured and anyway Balado was the No 1 in the world so it didn't make sense that Fizz beat him.
When Balado died in a tragic car accident in 1994 Fizz resumed his international career and was a Pan Am Games champion in 1995, stopping Lance Whitaker and Jean Francois Bergeron. At the 1995 World Championships he was favored to win gold but was disqualified for a low blow against latvian Vasili Melnikov in a fight he was winning easily. If I remember right the decision was originally a KO win for Fizz but overturned after a protest. It was a clear low blow if you know what I mean
Fizz then surprisingly lost to Alexis Rubalcaba at the 1996 Playa Giron and his place at the Olympic team was not secure anymore. He failed to appear at the Cordova Cardin tournament that year and I believe he got a life suspension which later was reduced to two years.
He made a comeback but was never the same. He lost to Pedro Carrion at the 1999 Playa Giron.
At the 1992 and 1994 Cuban Championships, the "Playa Giron" tournament, they were separated at the draw and both were awarded a gold medal
Alcides Sagarra, the legendary Cuban headcoach, said it was meaningless that they fought in the ring. Martinez Fizz could get injured and anyway Balado was the No 1 in the world so it didn't make sense that Fizz beat him.When Balado died in a tragic car accident in 1994 Fizz resumed his international career and was a Pan Am Games champion in 1995, stopping Lance Whitaker and Jean Francois Bergeron. At the 1995 World Championships he was favored to win gold but was disqualified for a low blow against latvian Vasili Melnikov in a fight he was winning easily. If I remember right the decision was originally a KO win for Fizz but overturned after a protest. It was a clear low blow if you know what I mean
Fizz then surprisingly lost to Alexis Rubalcaba at the 1996 Playa Giron and his place at the Olympic team was not secure anymore. He failed to appear at the Cordova Cardin tournament that year and I believe he got a life suspension which later was reduced to two years.
He made a comeback but was never the same. He lost to Pedro Carrion at the 1999 Playa Giron.