(MAR 15) Nearly six years ago, in July of 2001, WBAN ran a
story on Sylvia Torres, who was 82 years old at the time.
We had learned about Torres through a television program that was
aired in Germany that featured light-hearted stories from around the
world.
According to that televised story, Silvia told her story about her life-long
involvement and love for boxing from the age seven to in her 80's.
Silvia was born in Cuba, and lost her parents when she was six, so she had
to fend for herself from a very early age. Silvia was taking part in shows in Cuba back in the 1930's
in boxing. Silvia said that when the communists took over, these kind of
activities were banned and she moved to Florida.
On this television show, she said that she had had 500
fights with 30KO's. We assume that in the time frame that she was
participating in boxing that these were more than likely
exhibitions.
Torres, a tough woman of sorts, said that she had her nose broken and
had several black eyes from her activities in the ring, and stated,
"If you can't take a little bruising, boxing is not the sport for
you." Torres added, "I love boxing and hardly missed a day in
the gym."
After seeing this story in 2001, we put out a request from the
public to find Torres. (The results of that request, in 2001, we
received a video of Torres on a television program, and in 2005, a
photo of a mural that was painted of her at the Teo Cruz Boxing Gym,
in Florida---but we were not able to contact her directly.)
We HAVE now located her. Yesterday, WBAN received a couple of
emails from two very caring nurses from VITAS Innovative Hospice
Care. Torres is currently in that Hospice Care unit, in Miami
Beach, Florida, and even to this very day loves and misses boxing.
I spoke to Torres briefly today, and she is very happy to talk with
the boxing community, especially anyone she may have known in the
sport.
WBAN would like to ask the boxing community, and anyone interested
in brightening up Torres days, that they can send their thoughts to
her in cards, or calls. She would love to hear from you.
To send a card to her: The address is - VITAS
Innovative Hospice Care, 4701 N Meridian Ave., Nichols Building 6th
floor. Miami Beach, FL 33140,
room #6402. If you would like to call her,
email WBAN and we will
discuss with you the best times to call her, and give you the
number. VITAS at Miami Heart Institute
Please take a few moments to send Torres your thoughts or cards.
Thank you, Sue Fox
