Luis Yáñez
Encyclopedia
Luis Yáñez is a US-American amateur boxer. He is recognized for winning the Pan American title 2007 at junior flyweight. Yanez, the Latin Legend, is best known for being a 2008 Olympian in Beijing.
When Yanez was 14, he started compiling referrals from school administrators for disrupting class. After he had received 30 referrals, his coach Rodarte gave him an ultimatum to straighten up in school or he wouldn't be able to come to the gym.
Yanez won a silver medal at the Cadet(U17) World Championships 2005 and a gold medal at the Junior Olympics. In 2006 he became US champion and won the National Golden Gloves, in 2007 he repeated both wins.
In Brazil at the PanAm games 2007 he reached the final by beating two opponents who had beaten him earlier the same year – Cuba's Yampier Hernandez in the quarterfinals and Dominican Wilton Mendez in the semifinals and also bested Venezuelan Kevin Betancourt
, ranked 58th in the world for the gold medal.
He won the US Olympic trials in August 2007.
Yanez didn't lose a fight in US Open competition, going 92-0. In the past three years, he's 26-3 in international competition.
In August 2007, Yanez became the first boxer ever from Dallas, TX. to qualify for the Olympics. He was the third boxer from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, behind Donald Curry and Sergio Reyes of Ft. Worth. At the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships
in Chicago he qualified for the Olympics for good but lost surprisingly to fellow southpaw and eventual silver medalist Harry Tanamor
from the Philippines.
In November 2007, Yanez earned his ticket into the 2008 Olympics by "advancing to the quarterfinals of the AIBA World Championships in Chicago." In a bout against Australia's Stephen Sutherland, the referee was forced to stop the fight in the second round after Yanez caused three standing eight counts. With this win, Yanez earned his official place as a light flyweight (106 pounds) in the 2008 Olympics to be hosted in Beijing, China. At the meeting in China in November 2007 he was soundly defeated by world champ Zou Shiming
.
On July 16, 2008 Yanez was reinstated to the U.S. Olympic team after having been removed to the team for missing three weeks of training camp in Colorado. On August 13, 2008 Yanez won his first bout against Kelvin de la Nieve of Spain. The final score recorded reflected Yanez in the lead, outscoring de la Nieve 12-9.
Then he lost to eventual Mongolian runner-up Pürevdorjiin Serdamba
7:8.
in Dallas, Texas
. Yanez won his professional debut by majority decision
.
Yanez will begin his professional career fighting in the bantamweight
division (118 pounds), more than twelve pounds heavier than his amateur weight class of light flyweight (48 kilograms).
Amateur career
Southpaw Yanez who hails from Duncanville, Texas was a hyperactive kid who was taken to the gym by his father in 1997 at the age of 8 when he had trouble getting his son to listen and settle down. He wanted him to receive structure, release energy in a positive environment and instill discipline.When Yanez was 14, he started compiling referrals from school administrators for disrupting class. After he had received 30 referrals, his coach Rodarte gave him an ultimatum to straighten up in school or he wouldn't be able to come to the gym.
Yanez won a silver medal at the Cadet(U17) World Championships 2005 and a gold medal at the Junior Olympics. In 2006 he became US champion and won the National Golden Gloves, in 2007 he repeated both wins.
In Brazil at the PanAm games 2007 he reached the final by beating two opponents who had beaten him earlier the same year – Cuba's Yampier Hernandez in the quarterfinals and Dominican Wilton Mendez in the semifinals and also bested Venezuelan Kevin Betancourt
Kevin Betancourt
Kevin Betancourt is a Venezuelan amateur boxer best known to win a silver medal in the light flyweight division at the 2007 PanAm Games . In the final he lost to southpaw Luis Yáñez from the United States.-External links:*...
, ranked 58th in the world for the gold medal.
He won the US Olympic trials in August 2007.
Yanez didn't lose a fight in US Open competition, going 92-0. In the past three years, he's 26-3 in international competition.
In August 2007, Yanez became the first boxer ever from Dallas, TX. to qualify for the Olympics. He was the third boxer from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, behind Donald Curry and Sergio Reyes of Ft. Worth. At the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships
2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships
The 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championships were held in Chicago, United States from October 23, 2007 to November 3, 2007. It was held at the UIC Pavilion. It was the biggest World Championships in AIBA history. The championships were originally awarded to Moscow...
in Chicago he qualified for the Olympics for good but lost surprisingly to fellow southpaw and eventual silver medalist Harry Tanamor
Harry Tanamor
Harry Tañamor is an amateur boxer from Zamboanga City, Philippines best known to medal repeatedly on the world stage at light flyweight.-Career:...
from the Philippines.
In November 2007, Yanez earned his ticket into the 2008 Olympics by "advancing to the quarterfinals of the AIBA World Championships in Chicago." In a bout against Australia's Stephen Sutherland, the referee was forced to stop the fight in the second round after Yanez caused three standing eight counts. With this win, Yanez earned his official place as a light flyweight (106 pounds) in the 2008 Olympics to be hosted in Beijing, China. At the meeting in China in November 2007 he was soundly defeated by world champ Zou Shiming
Zou Shiming
Zou Shiming is the most successful amateur boxer from the People's Republic of China. He has won three world titles in 2005, 2007 and 2011 and the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the Light flyweight division.-Career:...
.
On July 16, 2008 Yanez was reinstated to the U.S. Olympic team after having been removed to the team for missing three weeks of training camp in Colorado. On August 13, 2008 Yanez won his first bout against Kelvin de la Nieve of Spain. The final score recorded reflected Yanez in the lead, outscoring de la Nieve 12-9.
Then he lost to eventual Mongolian runner-up Pürevdorjiin Serdamba
Pürevdorjiin Serdamba
Pürevdorjiin Serdamba is a Mongolian amateur boxer. He won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in the junior flyweight category. He became the first Mongolian to win a gold medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in 2009.-Career:...
7:8.
Professional career
Following the 2008 Olympics, Yanez announced that he would turn professional. His first professional fight took place on Friday, February 20 versus Julio Cesar Valadez of San Antonio at the American Airlines CenterAmerican Airlines Center
The American Airlines Center is a multi-purpose arena, located in the Victory Park neighborhood, near downtown Dallas, Texas.It is home to the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA, and the Dallas Stars of the NHL....
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Yanez won his professional debut by majority decision
Majority decision
A majority decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking...
.
Yanez will begin his professional career fighting in the bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
division (118 pounds), more than twelve pounds heavier than his amateur weight class of light flyweight (48 kilograms).