Tag Archives: Cuevas

Posted on 03/27/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Boxing has seen many faces. It’s also seen many of them leave as well. 

Much like every other sport, the story of boxing cannot be told without mentioning certain names. 

Names such as Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Larry Bird, Phil Jackson and countless others are intertwined with the NBA. Try all you want to explain the history of the game without them, but you’ll find that it’s impossible. Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Jerry Jones are precious pieces to the NFL. While names such as Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron are on the Baseball Mount Rushmore. 

Simply put, certain names are synonymous with their respective sport.  

In the case of boxing, the names are almost endless. From the moment Muhammad Ali stepped into the ring 1960, he dubbed himself “The Greatest”. We all laughed. But as he began to rack up the accomplishments, the laughing quickly stopped. Other names such as pound for pound great Sugar Ray Robinson, the freshly retired Floyd Mayweather and promoter Bob Arum all come to mind when discussing the history of boxing. 

Recently inducted New Jersey Hall of Famer Nelson Cuevas, is amongst the names in which the story of boxing cannot be told without mentioning his name. His passing, due to the Coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged the entire world, is particularly painful. 

Cuevas gave his all to boxing from the moment he laid his eyes on it over 60 years ago. With the help of legendary trainer Cus D’Amato, Cuevas quickly found his niche as a cut man, trainer and manager. If you considered yourself one of the greatest boxers in the world, then chances are, you worked with Cuevas.  

Fighters such as Earnie Shavers and Buddy McGirt worked closely with Cuevas. He also managed to build relationships with Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather as well. He didn’t just know them as great fighters inside of the ring, but he also knew another side of them. Something that the public didn’t always get a chance to see. 

“They were great guys,” said Nelson about the polarizing names that he worked with over the years. “People looked at them sometimes like they were bad people but they did all of that for publicity, they are great people.”

Throughout the years, Cuevas never asked for the limelight. He wasn’t interested in it. All he simply wanted to do was continue to give back. 

Although he worked with some of the greatest fighters of all-time, that wasn’t what he was mostly proud of. 

“Many people grow up having help but I didn’t. I became a man at 11 years old. I have worked with so many kids and helped them get off the streets and I am very proud of that.”

With the news of his passing hitting the boxing world like a ton of bricks, the outpouring love and appreciation for everything that he has done came immediately.

“We are saddened to report the passing of our dear Nelson Cuevas,” said Mendez Boxing Gym via Facebook. “He meant a lot to many of us and it’s heartbreaking to hear and share this news.

Please send your thoughts and prayers for his wife, Nilda during this time. We feel vulnerable at times but must be there for each other. We miss you Nelson. Rest in peace.”

The passing of Nelson Cuevas is a bitter pill to swallow. The boxing world lost a giant. Cuevas might be gone, but he will certainly never be forgotten. His legacy will forever live on in the New Jersey Hall of Fame and in the hearts of everyone that he touched throughout his lifetime.

Posted on 02/02/2017

Robinson, Socarras, Reis, Carto, Pizarro, Cuevas, Padilla & Adorno Friday in Philly!
By: Ken Hissner

Hard Hitting Promotions continues to fill the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia with fans and great fights! On Friday February 3rd it continues with Co-Promoters Manny Rivera and Will Ruiz featuring world contender southpaw “The New” Ray Robinson, 20-2 (10), in the main event for the second time in an 8 round bout.

At a Press Conference Wednesday night at the SugarHouse Casino nine showed up for the nine bout card. “Ray Robinson will be fighting for a world title by the end of the year (2017),” said Manny Rivera. Robinson is No. 9 in the WBC rankings dropped down from No. 5 after an auto accident sidelined him for 18 months. He makes no bones about it he wants a world title fight with fellow Philadelphia boxer and the WBC welterweight champion Danny “Swift” Garcia, 33-0 who is in a unification bout in March with WBA champion Keith Thurman. “I’ve been asking for this fight with Danny for years,“ said Robinson.

The undercard has Cuban Hairon “El Maga” Socarras, 14-0-2, out of Miami who meets 90+ bout veteran German “Pan Teonero” Meraz out of Sonora, MEX, over 6 rounds. Socarras is trained by legendary Cuban trainer Jorge Rubio. The boxer is returning to action after posting his second draw which was held in MEX in November of 2015. Now a super featherweight he won the interim WBC Latino super bantamweight title in Spain in 2014. Both he and Meraz were present.
In the other 6 round bout females Kali “KO Meainonoag” Reis, out of Providence, RI, the former WBC world champion takes on Kia Watkins, out of Tyler, TX, a former 3-time world title challenger in a middleweight bout. Former Philadelphia bantamweight National GG champion Christian Carto, 6-0 (6), takes on 40+ veteran Sergio Najera, of MEX, over 4 rounds.

Four of the top Latino prospects in the country help fill out the card featuring Philly’s 17-year old Branden Pizarro, 2-0 (1), against Abdiel Padilla, 1-0 (1), of PR, in a lightweight 4. “Branden Pizarro is a future world champion,” said Manny Rivera. Southpaw Philly lightweight Jeremy Cuevas, 2-0 (2), Allentown-Philly’s super featherweight Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno, 1-0 (1), Victor Padilla, 1-0 (1), out of Berlin, NJ, and Harold Lopez, Allentown-Philly’s debuting super flyweight are all featured in 4’s.
Doors open at 6pm and first bout at 7pm for this “Friday Night Boxing” event!