Angelo Dundee is widely regarded as being one of the greatest trainers in boxing history.
The Philadelphia-native began his coaching career alongside his brother Chris based at the iconic Fifth Street Boxing Gym in Miami, where he would go on to train no less than 15 world champions during his tenure.
He is perhaps more commonly known for his partnership with the legendary Muhammad Ali, coaching the three-time world heavyweight champion for almost the entire duration of his 21-year professional career.
Dundee also spent a number of years coaching five-division world champion Sugar Ray Leonard, working the corner for a number of the American greats bouts against the likes of Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.
In a feature with The Ring Magazine, Dundee revealed Cuba’s Florentino Fernandez as the hardest hitting fighter that he ever coached, as he said ‘nobody’ could punch like the late-great world middleweight title challenger.
“I love boxers but I’ve trained some bangers in my time. (Former heavyweight titleholder) Pinklon Thomas could whack, but nobody could punch like Fernandez. He was the best puncher out of Cuba. He was a converted southpaw so his left hook was murder. He broke Gene Fullmer’s forearm with a left hook during their middleweight title fight. He could hurt anyone with any kind of punch no matter where it landed.”
Fernandez is perhaps best known for his showdown with Gene Fullmer back in August of 1961, falling short in his attempt at becoming the world middleweight champion as he suffered a close split decision defeat in Utah.
From 67 fights, Fernandez had 50 wins, with an incredible 43 coming by way of knockout. The Cuban – who lived in exile in Florida when his home country banned pro boxing – died in 2013.
