McJoe Arroyo
Encyclopedia
McJoe Arroyo is a Puerto Rican
amateur boxer best known for winning a bronze medal at the
2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships as a bantamweight.
His twin brother McWilliams Arroyo
is also a boxer and qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games. Both of the Arroyo brothers won a medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships
, being the only pair of twins to win medals in this competition. They were also the second twins to qualify for the Olympics in boxing.
. In this locale they met Anthony Otero, a retired amateur boxer, who became their trainer during this stage of their careers. They initially took up the sport as a hobby, but after six fights they began establishing a pattern of only spending a limited amount of time inactive during a month, visiting the gymnasium at least every two weeks. Since the early stages of their careers, the brothers decided to fight in different divisions, in order to avoid fighting against each other. However, they participated in sparring sessions, performing as they would do against other sparring partners.
. In 2007 he participated at the Amateur World Championships and lost in the semifinals to eventual Russian winner Sergey Vodopyanov
9:20, qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games. After recovering, Arroyo participated in the XXVIII International Golden Belt Tournament organized in Constanta, Romania
. Here he defeated local Alex Spatariu in his first fight, who abandoned the fight in the third round. In the semifinals he defeated Mirzhan Rakhimzanov of Kazajistan by points, with scores of 21-16. In the finals he fought against Veira de Jesús of Brazil, defeating him by points (28-16). As part of their training the boxing team moved to South Korea
, in order to assimilate the time changes. After training and participating in a series of exhibition matches, the team traveled from Korea to Beijing.
. These concerns were restated in a subsequent press conference, where they noted that supporting their respective families was the main reason to pursue a professional career. On January 12, 2010, PR Best Boxing announced the official signing of both brothers. Arroyo's debut was scheduled for February 27, 2010, taking part of a card titled "Haciendo Historia", where Wilfredo Vázquez, Jr.
fought Marvin Sonsona
for the super bantamweight world championship. His opponent, Giovanni Rivera, had a previous experience of two professional fights. The fight began with Rivera moving around the ring, while Arroyo pursued him while engaging on the offensive, eventually scoring a knockdown. After 25 seconds of the second round had passed, he scored a second knockdown, prompting the referee to stop the contest by technical knockout. In his second fight, Arroyo defeated Steve Cannell by unanimous decision, winning al four rounds.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
amateur boxer best known for winning a bronze medal at the
2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships as a bantamweight.
His twin brother McWilliams Arroyo
McWilliams Arroyo
McWilliams Arroyo is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He was introduced to boxing in his childhood, becoming involved at the age of 12. As an amateur, Arroyo represented Puerto Rico in numerous international events....
is also a boxer and qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games. Both of the Arroyo brothers won a medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships
World Amateur Boxing Championships
The World Amateur Boxing Championships is a biennial amateur boxing competition organised by the International Boxing Association , which is the sport governing body. Alongside the Olympic boxing programme, it is the highest level of competition for the sport...
, being the only pair of twins to win medals in this competition. They were also the second twins to qualify for the Olympics in boxing.
Early life
McJoe was born along his twin brother, McWilliams, in the municipality of Ceiba in the northeast coastal region of Puerto Rico's main island. Arroyo and his twin, were introduced to boxing in their childhood. At the age of 12, they entered Gimnasio Fito Ramos, a gymnasium located in the municipality of Fajardo, Puerto RicoFajardo, Puerto Rico
Fajardo is a small city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Downtown Fajardo , which serves as the administrative center of the city...
. In this locale they met Anthony Otero, a retired amateur boxer, who became their trainer during this stage of their careers. They initially took up the sport as a hobby, but after six fights they began establishing a pattern of only spending a limited amount of time inactive during a month, visiting the gymnasium at least every two weeks. Since the early stages of their careers, the brothers decided to fight in different divisions, in order to avoid fighting against each other. However, they participated in sparring sessions, performing as they would do against other sparring partners.
Amateur career
Arroyo represented Puerto Rico in international competition. He won Bronze at flyweight at 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 20th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games was held in the city of Cartagena, Colombia. The tournament began on July 15 and ended on July 30.-Host City:*Main**Cartagena de Indias*Other host cities...
. In 2007 he participated at the Amateur World Championships and lost in the semifinals to eventual Russian winner Sergey Vodopyanov
Sergey Vodopyanov
Sergey Vodopyanov is a Russian amateur boxer best known to win gold in bantamweight Class at the2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships.- 2004 - 2006 :...
9:20, qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games. After recovering, Arroyo participated in the XXVIII International Golden Belt Tournament organized in Constanta, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. Here he defeated local Alex Spatariu in his first fight, who abandoned the fight in the third round. In the semifinals he defeated Mirzhan Rakhimzanov of Kazajistan by points, with scores of 21-16. In the finals he fought against Veira de Jesús of Brazil, defeating him by points (28-16). As part of their training the boxing team moved to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, in order to assimilate the time changes. After training and participating in a series of exhibition matches, the team traveled from Korea to Beijing.
Professional career
On December 8, 2009, the Arroyo brothers issued a press release trough their mother, Milagros Acevedo, informing that they were no longer interested in continuing their amateur careers. In the letter, they report differences with the criteria used to provide economical support to high-performance athletes, as well as schedule conflicts with their original plans to pursue a professional career after the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010.-Bid:...
. These concerns were restated in a subsequent press conference, where they noted that supporting their respective families was the main reason to pursue a professional career. On January 12, 2010, PR Best Boxing announced the official signing of both brothers. Arroyo's debut was scheduled for February 27, 2010, taking part of a card titled "Haciendo Historia", where Wilfredo Vázquez, Jr.
Wilfredo Vázquez, Jr.
Wilfredo Vázquez, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. Vázquez is the son of former world champion Wilfredo Vázquez. Vázquez debuted as a professional in 2006, against Octavious Davis in a fight that he won by knockout...
fought Marvin Sonsona
Marvin Sonsona
Marvin Sonsona is a Soccsksargenese professional boxer and a former WBO Super Flyweight World Champion. A relative of his named Eden Sonsona is also a boxer and a former Philippine national bantamweight champion...
for the super bantamweight world championship. His opponent, Giovanni Rivera, had a previous experience of two professional fights. The fight began with Rivera moving around the ring, while Arroyo pursued him while engaging on the offensive, eventually scoring a knockdown. After 25 seconds of the second round had passed, he scored a second knockdown, prompting the referee to stop the contest by technical knockout. In his second fight, Arroyo defeated Steve Cannell by unanimous decision, winning al four rounds.