On Thursday, April 14, the WBA boxing family met in Panama City to honor the memory of Mr. Gilberto Mendoza in a Mass that was held at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Several boxing personalities attended to give their support to the Mendoza family, among them IBF President Daryl Peoples, promoters Akihiko Honda, Sampson Lewkowicz, Ricardo Rizzo, Salvatore Cherchi and Sergio Chams, as well Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Roberto Diaz.
Of course one could not miss the boxers, who were always present for Don Gilberto in every action carried out. Jorge Linares, WBC lightweight champion and part of the KO Drugs initiative, said in Holy Mass the importance that the President Emeritus of the WBA had in his life as an athlete. Beside “El Niño de Oro” were former world champions Liborio Solis and Yonfrez Parejo, among other revered pugilists.
My dear WBA family and President Gilberto Mendoza:
I write this lines through my promoter Sampson Lewkowicz because I could not travel to Panama to attend the Memorial of our late President Emeritus.
I would like to express my deepest sorrow for the death of our president Emeritus Don Gilberto Mendoza, a man that, even though I did not met him, gave me the opportunity of my life! I would have liked to thank him in person for the opportunity to fight for the WBA World title, and make history for the first time in my country. To place Uruguay in the Boxing World and myself, a countryside girl, with dreams that seemed unreachable… how could I thank him!!
In the last days I have read beautiful words that describe him as a noble person, of good deeds, of strong principles, optimistic, a man who always promoted unity in all the areas of his life, in his family and his work. A person like that can be said to have much love. Love and charity for all of us… These are words felt unanimously by all of us in Boxing, by those who met him and those who did not, all we know that he did a lot for all of us and for this sport. He leaves us the great legacy and great teachings. He leaves us a family.
The WBA and my president Gilberto Mendoza whom deeply I admire and who has the huge responsibility to lead this great family, with love, I am sure he will do it like his beloved father.
For me it is not a good bye, but a see you later. I am sure he is in God’s Kingdom, watching us, admiring us for our gratitude towards him. And that is how we should remember him, with happiness and love as he taught us till the day we meet again.
My blessings and best wishes to the great WBA family, its boxers and its workers. Let’s remember him with love, and make a tribute to our President Emeritus with our heart!
God Bless him!
Cecilia Comunales
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
