By Gabriel F. Cordero
Panamanian former boxer and world title challenger Carlos “Macizo” Trujillo has passed away in Panama at the age of 66.
Trujillo began his athletic career in track and field in the late 1970s before turning to boxing. He made his professional debut in November 1980, the same year Roberto “Hands of Stone” Durán defeated Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC world welterweight title in Montreal, before losing the rematch to Leonard in New Orleans just days later.
Born in Los Santos on the Azuero Peninsula, a region central to Panama’s history, culture, music, and Carnival celebrations, Trujillo was a prominent professional boxer from 1980 to 1986. He compiled a record of 18 wins (12 by knockout), six losses, and one no-contest. His career included a challenge for the WBC world welterweight title against American Milton McCrory in Monaco, where he lost by third-round technical knockout.
Trujillo was the first major boxer born outside Panama City or Colón to train and fight in the Azuero region. He competed at legendary venues throughout the country, including Olmedo Solé Stadium in Las Tablas, the José Daniel Crespo High School Gymnasium in Chitré, the Municipal Gymnasium in Santiago de Veraguas, the Neco de La Guardia Arena in Panama City, the David School Gymnasium, the Panamá Al Brown Arena in Colón, and the iconic Nuevo Panamá (Roberto Durán) Arena in Juan Díaz. Through his achievements, he became a key figure in Panamanian boxing.
He also fought in Las Vegas, Nevada; Atlantic City; Texas; Monaco; South Africa; and Colombia, facing opponents such as Eduardo Rodríguez, Jun Suk Hwang, Harold Volbrecht, Tomás Molinares, and Milton McCrory.
His memorable 1985 world title challenge against McCrory in Monaco generated enormous anticipation and attracted a massive television audience in Panama. A man of few words and a calm demeanor, Trujillo will be remembered as an exemplary warrior both inside and outside the ring.
