Six days full of boxing formed the First Gilberto Mendoza Festival, an event that was held to commemorate the first year of the passing away of the President Emeritus of the World Boxing Association, whose physical departure occurred on March 11th, 2016.

The festival toured 21 states, including Aragua, Monagas and Bolivar, as well as a stop in the capital of Venezuela. The local associations provided a lot of collaboration to carry out the different programs, which had in action more than 400 boxers in about 200 fights.

The closing day was the most significant and began with a solemn Mass at the Codazzi Park Vertical Gymnasium. Later, the boxing hall Gilberto Mendoza was inaugurated, in which the grandson of the leader had the opportunity to cut the cord to open the space.

In the afternoon, there were several exhibitions where boxers and exboxers like Leo “Torito” Gámez participated. Then it was the turn of the second Mass of the day, where they kept paying tribute to Mendoza.

Finally, a professional boxing card conformed by 16 combats, was the end point of the first festival in honor to the Venezuelan. We thank all those involved in the activities in honor of Gilberto Mendoza and we hope that this will be the first of many events in favor of Venezuelan and world boxing.