We celebrate every January 18 in honor of boxing legend Carlos Morocho Hernández, who became the first Venezuelan to win a world title that day, the ruler said on his Twitter account.
Also known as Kid Helicoid, the Caracas super-lightweight boxer was named the top Venezuelan fighter of all time by the Idols of Boxing Foundation in 2011 with the approval of 145 sportswriters in the country.
The fighter with a powerful punch and refined technique has fought 76 fights, of which he has won 60, 44 of them by KO, lost only 12 and drawn four, according to the published statistics.
He received his first international scroll at the age of 15 when he won the Diamond Belt in Mexico at the II World Amateur Boxing Championship.
The title that launched him to fame came on January 18, 1965 in the junior welterweight category when he defeated American Eddie Perkins by unanimous decision in 15 rounds at the World Professional Boxing Championship held at the Nuevo Circo de Caracas.
Morocho Hernández was born on April 22, 1939 in the municipality of La Pastora and died on July 2, 2016 at the age of 76.
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