Mario César Kindelán Mesa
Encyclopedia
Mario César Kindelán Mesa (born August 10, 1971 in Holguín
) is a former two time Olympic
Gold Medalist amateur boxer from Cuba
, who competed in the lightweight category. He is the cousin of baseball player Orestes Kindelán
.
title, and covered every major event he entered including the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, three world championships (1999
, 2001
, 2003
), and the 2003 Pan American Games. His most recent victory was at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
, defeating Amir Khan
in the final, and retaining his gold medal
from four years earlier.
Kindelán was named among the top ten athletes in Cuba for 1999, as well as being selected 'Best Boxer in Cuba' in the same year.
In 1999, he was named as one of the top ten athletes in Cuba, and was named Boxer of the Year.
Having retired, he is generally considered as one of the greatest amateur boxers ever seen, leading to the comment during his final fight by the boxing commentator that he was "a professional in a vest".
Typical for athletes from Cuba, where professional sport is prohibited, his reward is pride in representing his people on the Olympic stage. He said, of being offered $1 million to compete professionally, "I thanked them, but money cannot buy what I have."
Holguín
Holguín is a municipality and city, the capital of the Cuban Province of Holguín. It also includes a tourist area, offering beach resorts in the outskirts of the region.-History:...
) is a former two time Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Gold Medalist amateur boxer from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, who competed in the lightweight category. He is the cousin of baseball player Orestes Kindelán
Orestes Kindelán
Orestes Kindelán Olivares is the most prolific home run hitter in the history of post-revolutionary Cuban baseball, well known as "El Cañon de Dos Rios" and one of the offensive stars of the Cuban national baseball team, which won numerous World Cups and two Olympic gold medals during his tenure...
.
Success
His most successful period came in a winning streak starting with the 1999 Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
title, and covered every major event he entered including the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, three world championships (1999
1999 World Amateur Boxing Championships
The Men's 1999 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Houston, United States from August 15 to August 29. The tenth edition of this competition, a year before the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, was organised by the world governing body for amateur boxing AIBA.- Medal winners :-...
, 2001
2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships
The Men's 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from June 3 to June 10. The competition was organised by the world governing body for amateur boxing International Boxing Association...
, 2003
2003 World Amateur Boxing Championships
The Men's 2003 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Bangkok, Thailand from July 6 to July 13. The competition was organised by the world governing body for amateur boxing AIBA.- Medal winners :- Medal table :-External links:**...
), and the 2003 Pan American Games. His most recent victory was at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, defeating Amir Khan
Amir Khan (boxer)
Amir Iqbal Khan , is a British Pakistani professional boxer who is currently the unified WBA & IBF light welterweight champion....
in the final, and retaining his gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
from four years earlier.
Kindelán was named among the top ten athletes in Cuba for 1999, as well as being selected 'Best Boxer in Cuba' in the same year.
Amateur Highlights
- 1998 World Cup Champion
- 1999 Pan-American Games Champion
- 1999 World Champion
- 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
- 2001 World Champion
- 2003 World Champion
- 2003 Pan-American Games Champion
- 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
In 1999, he was named as one of the top ten athletes in Cuba, and was named Boxer of the Year.
2000 Olympic Games
- 1st round bye
- Defeated Pongsit Wiangviset (Thailand) 14-8
- Defeated Tigran Ouzlian (Greece) RSC 4
- Defeated Alexandr MaletinAlexandr MaletinAlexandr Ivanovich Maletin is a boxer from Russia best known to win the lightweight world championships 1997.-Career:Maletin won the bronze medal in the lightweight division at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia...
(Russia) 27-15 - Defeated Andreas Kotelnik (Ukraine) 14-4 in the Gold Medal match.
2004 Athens Olympic Games
Kindelan's results in the games, were as follows:- Round of 32: Defeated Ahmed SadiqAhmed SadiqAhmed Sadiq is a Nigerian boxer who participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics for Nigeria. There he was outscored in the first round of the Lightweight division by Cuba's eventual winner Mario César Kindelán Mesa. One year earlier, he won the gold medal in his weight division at the All-Africa...
of Nigeria (RSC-3) - Round of 16: Defeated Asghar Ali Shah of Pakistan (24-9)
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Rovshan HuseynovRovshan HuseynovRovshan Huseynov was an Azerbaijani amateur boxer.In 1994 Huseynov won the gold medal at the World Cup Boxing Championship, held in Bangkok, Thailand, having beaten Vichai Khadpo of Thailand...
of Azerbaijan (23-11) - Semifinals: Defeated Murat KhrachevMurat KhrachevMurat Pyotrovich Khrachev is a Russian boxer who competed in the men's lightweight division at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal....
of Russia (20-10) - Gold Medal match: Defeated Amir KhanAmir Khan (boxer)Amir Iqbal Khan , is a British Pakistani professional boxer who is currently the unified WBA & IBF light welterweight champion....
of Great Britain (30-23)
Retirement
In May 2005, aged 34, he came out of retirement and travelled to Bolton, England for a third fight with Amir Khan. He had beaten Khan twice already the previous year – in the Pre-Olympic tournament and the Olympic Lightweight final – however Khan had become a popular attraction in the UK and a third fight was arranged to set up his professional debut. Khan beat Kindelan on points 19-13.Having retired, he is generally considered as one of the greatest amateur boxers ever seen, leading to the comment during his final fight by the boxing commentator that he was "a professional in a vest".
Typical for athletes from Cuba, where professional sport is prohibited, his reward is pride in representing his people on the Olympic stage. He said, of being offered $1 million to compete professionally, "I thanked them, but money cannot buy what I have."