More on Raul Macias who passed away in Mexico City

By James Blears

Beloved Mexican boxing great Raul Raton Macias has died at age 74.

Don Raul had been battling prostrate cancer. He fought back from a successful operation to banish this cancer seven years ago. But it returned, and he died in the Twentieth of November Hospital in Mexico City, with his family by his side.

The funeral vigil was packed with family, friends and fans including: Rafael Herrera, Jose Isidro, Pipino Cuevas, Jose Antonio Aguirre and Humberto Chiquita Gonzalez. Dozens of ornate floral tributes were brought in, hour after hour by the those who loved and admired a gentleman who was known for his warm smile, kind heart, mild manner and his colorful Guayabera shirts.

WBC Executive Director Mauricio Sulaiman said: “It is such a sad day, but also so very, very proud because of the huge turn out of Raul’s many friends, fans and the media. We so loved and admired him. He has been a friend of my Father for more years than I can remember.

“Raul packed out stadiums long before marketing and PR was introduced into boxing. He was a modest, kind and wonderful man who always did a lot of charity work and helped many people. He always said I owe it all to my Manager and the Virgin of Guadalupe, so a service is being held in the Basilica of Guadalupe to thank God for the life of this beloved man. He’s going to have his farewell with the Lady of Guadalupe ”

Raul Macias was born on July 28th 1934 in the Tepito district of Mexico City, which has produced some of Mexico’s greatest champions. He began his amateur career at fourteen winning the National Junior Flyweight, flyweight and Bantamweight titles. He won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games and fought in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.

As a professional he won the North American Bantamweight title, defeating Olympic Flyweight Gold Medalist Nate Brooks. This happened in front of a crowd of more than 50,000 fans in Mexico City.

Then in only his twelfth professional fight, on March 9th 1955, he won the NBA version of the Wold Bantamweight Title by stopping Chamrern Songkitrat in eleven action packed rounds in San Francisco.

A stalwart of the WBC and always willing to talk about boxing, Don Raul never turned down an interview request, or a person who wanted an autograph. That says it all about the man.