Boxing World mourns the loss of Don Jose “Olivaritos” Morales

The bad news, our time on this planet flies like an arrow. The good news, the bow is in our hands. Seems like only yesterday when a young man by the name of Jose Morales Damian had moved to Tijuana from San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, he then got hitched and began to raise a family. Before long he was teaching his sons how to box. As they say, the rest is history.

Wherever a beautiful soul has been, no doubt there’s a trail of beautiful memories. Warm hearted, well-known boxing trainer/coach Jose “Olivaritos” Morales, the father of former World Champion (in four separate weight classes) Erik “El Terrible” Morales, bantamweight contender Ivan Morales and former WBO Super Flyweight World Champion Diego Morales passed on to his eternal reward early Thursday morning, June 9, 2016. After suffering a stroke on May 18th, Morales had remained in a coma for a week. Within the Tijuana boxing community, you can be sure he will be remembered and forever missed. At this time, the chore of relaying the sad news of his passing falls on all of us. Tomorrow, Friday, June 10, there will be an 11:00 a.m. mass for Don Jose “Olivaritos” Morales at the Cathedral on Second street in Tijuana’s central area.

Jose Morales Damian, born December 3, 1955, in Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato, moved to Tijuana at the age of 19. After a short pro boxing career, this giver in life established his own boxing gym in the North Central Zone of Tijuana. Over a coaching career that lasted almost forty years, he had helped immeasurably in the development of so many outstanding fighters. The names of the most famous include Mauro “Betillo” Gutierrez, Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campas, Cesar Bazan, Jorge “Travieso” Arce, Antonio Margarito, Javier “Cobra” Mendoza, Jorge Paez Jr. and of course his three sons Erik, Diego, and Ivan Morales.

Sure most will remember Morales as a person devoted to boxing, but there was so much more that he gave on a daily basis to the people who crossed his path. The reigning President of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimon, remembers his friend: “He had a wonderful smile, sparkling sense of humor and an endless reservoir of kindness from a handsome man, with a beautiful soul.”

The boxing community of Baja California and Southern California joins Mauricio Sulaimon, Erik, Diego, Ivan and the whole Morales Family in mourning for this marvelous and truly unforgettable man. Time will pass, but the memories of Jose “Olivaritos” Morales will last for generations. Together they want to express their condolences for the loss of their dear friend and great human being.

Once again, the Mass for Jose Morales is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, June 10, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral on Second street in Tijuana, Mexico’s central district.

Born December 3, 1955, in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Jose Morales Damian moved to Tijuana at the age of 19. After a short pro boxing career, this giver in life established his own boxing gym in the North Central Zone of Tijuana and began a coaching career that would last almost forty years. In doing so, he helped immeasurably in the development of so many outstanding athletes. The names of the most famous include Mauro “Betillo” Gutierrez, Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campas, Cesar Bazan, Jorge “Travieso” Arce, Antonio Margarito, Javier “Cobra” Mendoza, Jorge Paez Jr. and of course his three sons Erik, Diego, and Ivan Morales.

Sure most will remember Morales as a person devoted to boxing, but there was so much more that he gave on a daily basis to the people lucky enough to cross his path. The reigning President of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimon, remembers his friend: “He had a wonderful smile, sparkling sense of humor and an endless reservoir of kindness from a handsome man, with a beautiful soul.”

The boxing community of Baja California and Southern California joins the President of the World Boxing Council, Erik, Diego, Ivan and the whole Morales Family in mourning for this marvelous and truly unforgettable man. Time will pass, but the memories of Jose “Olivaritos” Morales will last for generations. Together the people who knew him want to express their condolences for the loss of their dear friend and great human being.

Once again, the Mass for Jose Morales is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, June 10, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral on Second street in Tijuana, Mexico’s central district.