Roberto Balado

A relatively small super-heavyweight by modern standards, Roberto Balado was as fast and agile as fighters in much lower weight divisions. Although he was World Junior Champion in 1987 he was initially overshadowed in Cuba by Leonardo Martinez but when Martinez was injured before the 1991 world championships Balado inherited his place and went on to win the gold medal. He was defeated in the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle but won every other major tournament he entered including three world titles and Pan-American Games gold in 1991. Roberto was considered by many to have a strong chance of equalling compatriot Teofilio Stevenson’s three Olympic gold in the highest weight category but on the morning of June 2nd, 1994 he was fatally injured when his car was struck by a train at a railway crossing.