History-making world champion boxer dies after | Boxing News

The boxing world is mourning after the death of Argentinian star Alejandra ‘La Locomotora’ Oliveras. The former world champion suffered a stroke and had been hospitalised over the final two weeks. She handed away on Monday, July 28, at 47 years previous. Oliveras was the first girl to win six world titles across 5 weight divisions and was an icon for girls’s boxing across Latin America and past.

Born in El Carmen, Jujuy, in 1978, Oliveras utilised her difficult upbringing to create a profitable life for herself. By 2005 she made her boxing debut, where she made historical past as the first Argentine girl to win a world title on international soil, after she knocked out Jackie Nava in Mexico in 2006. Oliveras went on to secure titles in 5 weight courses – the tremendous bantamweight, featherweight, light-weight, tremendous light-weight, and tremendous featherweight. The gorgeous achievement even granted her two Guinness World Records and an induction into the Latin American Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024.

Born in a very small village close to Rio IV, Cordoba, it was there that she was bullied as a baby. At just 15, she turned a mom, and her dream of beginning a household shortly turned into a nightmare after she suffered from home violence at the arms of her associate.

“Tired of being hit, I found strength I didn’t know I had and gave him a tremendous punch in the stomach and left with my baby,” she stated on how she escaped the state of affairs. She later gained the moniker ‘Locomotora’, translating to ‘engine’ in English, due to her spirit as effectively as the facility of her punch.

After deciding she wished to emulate Mike Tyson, Oliveras caught the eye of famend Cordoban coach Carlos Tello, who took it upon himself to hone her expertise.

Oliveras later turned a hero across her homeland as she entered into iconic rivalries with Marcela ‘La Tigresa’ Acuña and Lely Luz Flórez as she delivered electrifying performances in venues like the long-lasting Luna Park in Buenos Aires.

In what was arguably her best sporting feat, on May 20, 2006, she defeated the extremely regarded Jackie Navas by TKO in the ninth spherical and was topped WBC tremendous bantamweight world champion.

She efficiently defended the belt until December 2008, when it was taken from her by her compatriot and long-term foe Acuña in a big bout held at Luna Park that gained worldwide consideration. Oliveras also aimed for the WBC tremendous light-weight belt in 2011, but misplaced by unanimous choice to Monica Acosta.

However, Oliveras managed to set up herself a yr later in the light-weight division, profitable the WBC belt after defeating Jessica Villafranca by knock out. She efficiently defending the title against Diana Ayala, Migdalia Asprilla, Paulina Cardona, Dayana Cordero, and Calista Silgado.

In 2013, Oliveras gained the vacant WBC tremendous light-weight title against Florez. Her final combat got here in 2019 and she shortly introduced her retirement after 15 years in the squared circle with a report of 33 wins, three defeats, two attracts.

Later on in life, she based Team Locomotora – a gymnasium in Santa Fe that supplied boxing courses free of charge. She made her life out of the ring as thrilling as it was in it as she ran for national congress and turned a vocal proponent against gender violence, discrimination, and inequality in sports activities.

Her death has rocked boxing communities across the world. The WBA, which recognised her as world champion on a number of events, shared its “deep sorrow” at her passing.  

“My gym has always been about teaching, supporting, and helping people who want to let off steam,” she once said of her desire to give back to her community.

Regarding her constant ability to overcome the harshest environments and greatest opponents, she said that her power “didn’t come from bodily energy but from my soul.” Oliveras leaves behind two sons, Alejandro, 31, and Alexis, 27.