to the professional boxer Ricardo Fernandez Mendoza T.he is known by all as ‘Matthew’. It was a nickname given to him by his grandmother and he didn’t want to forget.
Last weekend he achieved a milestone in his professional career: he won the belt that identifies him as Mediterranean champion of the International Boxing Organization (IBO) of the super lightweight division (less than 63.5 kilograms or 140 pounds). He did it outside the house Lyon, France, beat on points a local boxer he was able to knock down at one time. It was a great achievement that people appreciated the noble art in all its difficulties.
But that fight could not only remain as a milestone in ‘Matthew’s’ resume, but also in boxing from La Rioja. Despite questioning various files, we have not seen any professional boxers from La Rioja raise their arms from a fight with the title at stake. Macario Oguetaborn in the Alava town of Corres but living in Logronodeveloped his professional career between 1946 and 1950. Strong and handsome, he contested the national light heavyweight title in Bilbao against Dionisio Ibarrondoand the heavyweight against the mythical Paco Bueno in the bullring of Driver of San SebastianHe lost on both occasions and never returned to the ring after the fight with Paco Bueno when he was 30 years old.
Much more recently, the man from Logroño Jorge Vallejo He has fought for three titles. In 2017 in Benalmádena for the national super welterweight against Andalusian Lopez Clavero; in 2018 in Pamplona against Navarrese Cesar Nunez of national middleweight; and in 2019 in Berlin against Germany Elbir of the central Continental IBO. Luck avoids him on all three occasions.
No additional references will appear at first glance. Although there may have been boxers from La Rioja who moved to BBarcelona, Bilbao, Madrid or abroad and hard to find.
Ricardo Fernández ‘Mateo’, the humble and quiet boxer born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia) but who grew up in Logroño was the first professional boxer from La Rioja to retain a title in his showcase. ‘Matthew’ always combined his sporting activity with one job. He was a farm worker in vineyards around the capital of La Rioja, who limited his training to different times of the year and favored certain injuries. For many years he worked the morning shift at a meat company, which simplifies the boxing combination, but requires both sacrifice and strength. The leisure of ‘Matthew’ is training along with Barra Boxing Club.
The conquest of the title brought an athlete who was always in the shadow of the achievements of others to take over the forefront. And responded to requests to take pictures with those who admired him. ‘Matthew’ smiled and posed with his belt without losing simplicity and modesty.
He will return to training in a few days.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
