Former champ Palacio dies

[stujones]

This sad news is copied from Fightnews.

November 20, 2003

By Robert Coster

Former WBO featherweight champion Ruben "Huracan" Palacio died of AIDS in a hospital in Medellin; Colombia on Friday. Palacio became famous when, as reigning world champion, he was forced in 1993 to relinquish his laurel because he was discovered to have the deadly desease that ultimately took his life.

The case made headlines but it the brave Colombian champion should be remembered for much more. Palacio fought 11 years before surprisingly winning the WBO title in England with an 8 round kayo of British star Colin McMillan (9-26-1992).

Before that, Palacio had tried unsuccesfully to win a world title on 3 occasions and never gave up on his dream, even when he had very low points in his career (between 1984 and 1986, for example, he lost 4 out of 5 fights).

He was very much the underdog against the flashy 23-1 McMillan but Palacio had his night of glory that day in London. Ironically, he returned to England to defend his title and then he was diagnosed with the AIDS virus by the British Board of Boxing. Palacio had to relinquish the belt he had waited so long to win and retired with a 45-11-2 (19 KO) record.

After, the former champion's life was a tragic downward spiral. He was arrested on drug trafficking charges in the US a year after and spent four years in jail. At the time of his death , Ruben Palacio was a few weeks short of his 41st birthday

[bennie]

This sad news is copied from Fightnews.

November 20, 2003

By Robert Coster

Former WBO featherweight champion Ruben "Huracan" Palacio died of AIDS in a hospital in Medellin; Colombia on Friday. Palacio became famous when, as reigning world champion, he was forced in 1993 to relinquish his laurel because he was discovered to have the deadly desease that ultimately took his life.

The case made headlines but it the brave Colombian champion should be remembered for much more. Palacio fought 11 years before surprisingly winning the WBO title in England with an 8 round kayo of British star Colin McMillan (9-26-1992).

Before that, Palacio had tried unsuccesfully to win a world title on 3 occasions and never gave up on his dream, even when he had very low points in his career (between 1984 and 1986, for example, he lost 4 out of 5 fights).

He was very much the underdog against the flashy 23-1 McMillan but Palacio had his night of glory that day in London. Ironically, he returned to England to defend his title and then he was diagnosed with the AIDS virus by the British Board of Boxing. Palacio had to relinquish the belt he had waited so long to win and retired with a 45-11-2 (19 KO) record.

After, the former champion's life was a tragic downward spiral. He was arrested on drug trafficking charges in the US a year after and spent four years in jail. At the time of his death , Ruben Palacio was a few weeks short of his 41st birthday

Very sad news. He was a tough fighter who, make no mistake, was really getting to a peak Colin McMillan in their WBO featherweight title fight in the early 90's before McMillan's shoulder went out. There was nothing lucky about his win at all. It was a terrible tragedy when he contracted aids while 'celebrating' his title win. He would have reigned for years. He was a better fighter than Steve Robinson, for sure. What a waste.
I first noticed him when he came over to London in the 80's to fight Jim McDonnell. He gave the unbeaten McDonnell hell before losing on a cut, and later lost in a couple of shots at the world super-bantamweight title against classy compatriot Luis Mendoza. It looked all over for him. But then he was brought over to challenge Colin McMillan in 1992 strictly as an 'opponent'. McMillan was all the rage back then. But Palacios proved his mettle once again, rocked the champion badly on a couple of occasions, and was sickening him with body shots when McMillan's shoulder came out in the eighth and it had to be stopped. I remember allegedly trying to claim that Palacios had pulled the shoulder out in a clinch, which was the biggest load of sour grapes I've ever heard in my life. He'd lost his golden goose and didn't like it one bit. Palacios could fight!

[Lorn]

Condolances to his family, and to those close to him.

This is a very sad loss.

[bennie]

His brother, Wilson, lost a close one to Barry Jones over here.

[stujones]

This sad news is copied from Fightnews.

November 20, 2003

By Robert Coster

Former WBO featherweight champion Ruben "Huracan" Palacio died of AIDS in a hospital in Medellin; Colombia on Friday. Palacio became famous when, as reigning world champion, he was forced in 1993 to relinquish his laurel because he was discovered to have the deadly desease that ultimately took his life.

The case made headlines but it the brave Colombian champion should be remembered for much more. Palacio fought 11 years before surprisingly winning the WBO title in England with an 8 round kayo of British star Colin McMillan (9-26-1992).

Before that, Palacio had tried unsuccesfully to win a world title on 3 occasions and never gave up on his dream, even when he had very low points in his career (between 1984 and 1986, for example, he lost 4 out of 5 fights).

He was very much the underdog against the flashy 23-1 McMillan but Palacio had his night of glory that day in London. Ironically, he returned to England to defend his title and then he was diagnosed with the AIDS virus by the British Board of Boxing. Palacio had to relinquish the belt he had waited so long to win and retired with a 45-11-2 (19 KO) record.

After, the former champion's life was a tragic downward spiral. He was arrested on drug trafficking charges in the US a year after and spent four years in jail. At the time of his death , Ruben Palacio was a few weeks short of his 41st birthday

Very sad news. He was a tough fighter who, make no mistake, was really getting to a peak Colin McMillan in their WBO featherweight title fight in the early 90's before McMillan's shoulder went out. There was nothing lucky about his win at all. It was a terrible tragedy when he contracted aids while 'celebrating' his title win. He would have reigned for years. He was a better fighter than Steve Robinson, for sure. What a waste.
I first noticed him when he came over to London in the 80's to fight Jim McDonnell. He gave the unbeaten McDonnell hell before losing on a cut, and later lost in a couple of shots at the world super-bantamweight title against classy compatriot Luis Mendoza. It looked all over for him. But then he was brought over to challenge Colin McMillan in 1992 strictly as an 'opponent'. McMillan was all the rage back then. But Palacios proved his mettle once again, rocked the champion badly on a couple of occasions, and was sickening him with body shots when McMillan's shoulder came out in the eighth and it had to be stopped. I remember allegedly trying to claim that Palacios had pulled the shoulder out in a clinch, which was the biggest load of sour grapes I've ever heard in my life. He'd lost his golden goose and didn't like it one bit. Palacios could fight!

Yes, agree there Bennie. Better than Robinson?? I'm not so sure about that one - it would have been one hell of a contest.

If I do remember the Palacio vs McMillan contest, it was a close affair - but I think McMillan was leading at the time of the stoppage. However, a lot of McMillan's flaws were exposed that night.