Cuban Boxer Who Trekked Across the Balkans Wins WBC Title in Europe

Cuban boxer Ángel Raymond Morejón, also known as "El Terrible," transformed his life from trekking through the Balkan mountains by night, after being denied entry at borders twice, to clinching a significant World Boxing Council (WBC) title in Europe.

Morejón, who left Cuba to reunite with his mother in Italy, claimed the WBC Silver title in the bridgerweight division. He achieved this by defeating Ugandan Willy Kyakonye via third-round technical knockout during a match held on October 12 at the historic Carré Theater in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The World Boxing Council confirmed Morejón’s victory, praising his performance against an undefeated opponent who was fighting in front of a home crowd.

In the match, Morejón sent his opponent to the canvas in the first round, knocked him down again in the third, and forced the opponent's corner to throw in the towel just one minute and eight seconds into that round.

The WBC stated that Morejón holds a professional record of 13 wins, no losses, and 10 knockouts.

From Cuba to Italy: A Journey to Reunite with Family

Trained in Havana's Cuban boxing school, Morejón was once part of national teams and dreamed of competing in the Olympics. However, he chose to seek new opportunities outside the island.

In 2022, he traveled to Russia for a fight and then embarked on a challenging migration journey to Italy, where his mother had been living for years.

His path took him through Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. He traversed mountainous areas on foot, often at night, with minimal resources and uncertain prospects of reaching his destination.

As he recounted in an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano, border authorities rejected him twice before he was able to continue his journey.

"I was never afraid because my goal was to reach my mother," the athlete recalled of his journey.

He eventually made it to Italy in 2023 and reunited with her in Porretta Terme, a town in the Emilia-Romagna region near Bologna.

His arrival didn't mark the end of his struggles. He had to adapt to a new country, learn the language, regulate his immigration status, and rebuild his boxing career.

He found a chance at the Pugilistica Alto Reno gym under the guidance of coach Emanuele Orlando, who helped him develop his professional career and adapt his technique to European boxing.

Success soon followed. In July 2026, he won the Italian heavyweight championship, and just three months later, he added the WBC Silver belt to his achievements.

The migration also led to other family separations. In a July interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Morejón revealed that his daughter was living in Mexico and expressed his hope to bring her to Italy one day.

One Step Closer to a World Championship

In statements published by Corriere di Bologna, the Cuban acknowledged the significance of his victory in Amsterdam.

"It was not an easy night," Morejón stated, emphasizing that his opponent was undefeated and fighting in front of his supporters, circumstances that made the win particularly meaningful.

He also explained that during the fight, he observed Kyakonye's tendency to advance using his right hand, which gave him opportunities to land his punches.

Although the Silver belt is a major achievement, Morejón has yet to become the absolute world champion. The bridgerweight division title, with a limit of 224 pounds, is currently held by Belgian Ryad Merhy.

The victory in Amsterdam brings the Cuban closer to the chance of competing for that crown, although an official world championship fight has not yet been announced.

"I am very happy for myself and for my entire team," the boxer told the Italian media, confident that this result could open doors to greater challenges.