Christmas Tragedy: Cuban Cruiserweight Yendris Valdez Shot to Death in Miami
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Miami, FL (December 26th, 2019)– Ten bout cruiserweight veteran Yendris ‘El Veloz’ Rodriguez Valdez, age 30, a native of Havana, Cuba now fighting out of Miami, Florida, was shot to death after an argument at the pig farm where he worked in Krome, Florida, south of Miami, on December 22, 2019.
Only 48 hours earlier, Valdez fought perhaps the best bout of his life, a four-round draw with debuting Drew Dwelly at the super middleweight limit at the Miami-Dade Fair & Expo in Miami on December 20, 2019. Having lost five of his last six bouts in the first or second round, with an only third-round stoppage win in 2017, it was a significant comeback performance for Valdez, whose career did not enjoy the sponsorship, promotion and success of other Cuban emigre boxers.
Valdez trained at Moro’s Boxing Gym in Miami, Florida. The head of Moro’s, Osmiri Fernandez, broke the tragic news on social media, with strong feelings over the loss of Valdez. “A cowardly degenerate took the life of one of our athletes (boxers) in the (this) morning. This Saturday, he made (fought) one of his best fights in his professional career. Yendris Rodriguez Valdez, who we nicknamed ‘El Veloz’, rest in peace.”
Further details are being withheld pending an official investigation. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The final ring record of Valdez was 2-7-2 with two knockouts, competing as a middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight between 2015 and 2019. His amateur record in Cuba before his arrival in the United States is unknown.
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