Former World Boxing Association super bantamweight champion Ricardo Cardona Caceres died at a hospital in this Colombian city, his family said Monday. He was 63.
Cardona, who had an exquisite style and won the world championship on May 7, 1978, by knocking out South Korea's Soo-Hwan Hong, was suffering from cancer and had been receiving treatment at the Bonnadona Hospital in Barranquilla, his son, Ricardo Saul Cardona Becerra, told EFE.
"He had been treated for cancer since 2009, but a few months ago it (spread) to his lung, bones and brain, and last night he died of cardiopulmonary arrest," said Cardona Becerra.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday to allow time for other relatives to arrive from Venezuela, where Cardona spent a good part of his career being managed by Ramiro Machado, who also managed the legendary Antonio "Kid Pambele" Cervantes, Colombia's first world boxing champion.
Cardona, who was born in San Basilio Palenque, successfully defended his world title five times before losing a May 1980 bout in Seattle against Leo Randolph.
He was the third Colombian boxer to win a world title, after Kid Pambele and Rodrigo Valdes.
One of Cardona's brothers, Prudencio, also was a world champion - in the flyweight division - although he only held that title for four months.
Ricardo Cardona finished his career with a record of 26 wins, 10 losses and one draw. EFE





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