Former Olympic boxer Carlos 'El Topo' Gerena, 55, died Monday night after being struck by a driver who fled the scene in Bayamón, according to the Puerto Rico Police, and the island’s boxing community mourned him on Tuesday. Gerena is remembered for winning bronze at the 1989 Junior World Championship held in Puerto Rico, silver at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, and representing Puerto Rico at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
He turned professional in 1993 and fought 44 times, posting a record of 38-6 with 30 knockouts, with his last fight in 2003. In 1998 he arrived undefeated in 22 fights at his first world title chance, losing a unanimous 12-round decision to Mexico’s Genaro 'Chicanito' Hernández for the junior lightweight belt. Mayweather, who later took the belt from Hernández, defended it successfully against Gerena in 1999.
José Bonilla, part of the national amateur coaching staff, recalled Gerena as humble and dedicated, noting the team spent a year training at the Albergue Olímpico before the 1989 Junior Worlds, alongside coaches José Luis Vellón and Orlando Rodríguez. Vellón called him 'an outstanding, disciplined athlete' of Aníbal Acevedo’s generation; Acevedo won bronze in Barcelona.
Former world champion and ex-president of the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission Víctor 'Luvi' Calleja said Gerena’s talent lacked the right direction to reach a world title.