* In his prime: Raúl Macías. Via The Ring.
Mexico's original and most legendary boxing hero, Raúl "Ratón" Macías, passed away this week. Michael Rosenthal writes at The Ring:
Macias, raised in one of Mexico City's toughest neighborhoods, wasn't the brawler that Mexican and Mexican-American fans typically embrace. He was a boxer-puncher, a thinking man's fighter who could win in many ways. However, his combination of success in the ring (41-2, 25 knockouts), movie-star looks that would later lead him into acting and his man-of-the-people charm made him a favorite of even non-Mexicans in 1950s.
He filled arenas both in Mexico and in the United States, exclusively in California and Texas, states with many fans of Mexican descent. His fight against Nate Brooks in 1952 drew more than 50,000 to the main bullring in Mexico City.
He was also known for his signature victory line: "I owe everything to my manager and to the Virgencita de Guadalupe." Hundreds attended a Mass for Macías on Tuesday at the Basilica. La Prensa has more coverage here, here, and here.
* See also The Mex Files.