SPORTS IN NICARAGUA

The king of sports in Nicaragua is baseball, which was introduced in the 19th
century on the Caribbean coast by an American named Albert Addlesberg, who
taught the inhabitants of Bluefields how to play baseball, but it was in 1891 that
it arrived in the area. “Pacific by a group of university students from the USA,
since then this sport became popular and has developed to become the king of
the country.”
There are two baseball leagues: The national professional baseball league and
the national superior baseball championship, which since 2009 has been known
as the German Pomares Ordoñez league.

In the professional league there are only 4 teams: The Giants of Rivas, The Boer
Indians of Managua, the Lions of León and the Tigers of Chinandega.

The first season of this league was held between 1957 and 1958 and the winning
team that time was the lions. Since that season, a total of only 13 leagues have
been held since from 1960 to 1961 there was no league, and from 1967 to 2004 it
was inactive, a total of 37 years without a professional league, then it was
resumed in 2004 and resumed again. suspend in 2008. Curiously, in this last
season the current champion is still the lions team.
Due to this great absence of 37 years, the top league gained strength and
became popular because more departments of the country began to integrate.
Exactly in the 80s this league emerged, but this league was quite irregular, they
did not have a very coordinated schedule so to speak and not all departments
played. This league took a more regulated form in 2009 when it was renamed the
German Pomares Ordoñez Superior Baseball League.
There is representation from the 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions of
the Republic of Nicaragua:
1- Boer Managua
2- Mists Jinotega
3- coffee growers Carazo
4- Gunboats Madriz
5- Caribbean coast RACCN
6- Dantos Managua
7- Defenders San Juan River
8- Esteli Esteli
9- San Fernando Beasts Masaya
10- Southern Front Rivas
11- Zelaya Central Giants RACCS
12- Natives Matagalpa
13- Lions Lion
14- orange trees Chinandega
15- New Segovia New Segovia
16- Producers Boaco
17- Sharks Grenade
18- Bulls Chontales
From 2009 to today, the team that has won the most championships is the
indigenous people of Matagalpa.
Of the players who have stood out the most in this sport, both nationally and
internationally:
José Denis Martínez Ortiz, born in Granada on May 14, 1954, His love for Baseball
manifested itself in a modest and improvised Baseball playing field known as La
Sabaneta. Thanks to his great talent and his great work, Denis played for major
major league teams such as: Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos, Cleveland
Indians, Seattle Mariners and ended up with the Atlanta Braves.
His greatest feat: On July 30, 1991, he became the 15th pitcher in history to
achieve a perfect game by dominating the Los Angeles Dodgers while he
belonged to the Montreal Expos.

Vicente de la Cruz Padilla, born in Chinandega on September 27, 1977, is a right-

handed pitcher who has had an excellent career in the major leagues. The teams
he has played for are: Arizona Diamond back, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers
and the Angeles Dodgers.

The Major Leagues welcomed Marvin Benard on September 5, 1995, in the duel
that the San Francisco Giants defeated the Montreal Expos 9-6. El nica had his
first turn as a major leaguer in the bottom of the eighth inning and did so as a
substitute for Scott Service
On September 5, 2000, Oswaldo Mairena debuted with the Chicago Cubs.
Everth Cabrera made his debut in the Major Leagues on April 8, 2009 in the game
that his San Diego Padres lost 5-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cheslor Cuthbert, the fourteenth native in the Major Leagues, debuted on July 7,
2015 in the challenge that his Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-5.
That afternoon, Nica started at third base and had one hit in four at-bats. He
drove in no runs and struck out once. His hit was a single to center field off
pitcher Matt Moore, who had struck him out in his first at-bat as a major leaguer.
(mention Nicaragua in baseball world championships)
The second most popular sport we have is, as I said before, boxing
The practice of this sport in the various departments of our country was applied
without the essential conditions, rules, control and commissions that assumed a
leading role. It is known that the first boxing news mentioning a combat match,
according to existing written sources, dates back to October 3, 1920.
On the main page of the newspaper La Noticia in 1920, it seems under the
following headline: “Sensational boxing match”, the first show promoter of the
1920s was already mentioned: José Santos Ramírez “Tex Ramírez”. Enrique Leal
was considered by chroniclers of the 1920s as the first national champion. Arsene
Lupín, sports chronicler of the time, mentions that Enrique Leal was our first
champion.
The places at that time in which the great boxing evenings were staged were:
León, Granada and Managua.
Boxing, as a social phenomenon, spread throughout the different corners of the
national territory. On November 3, 1931, an agreement was issued and published
the next day in the Gazette. Through Decree N0. 58, President José María
Moncada, agreed to the creation of the National Sports Commission (CNDD).
Likewise, Captain of the National Guard Francisco Gaitán was appointed as
president of the commission and since then there was a little more control
regarding professional fights.
Among the fights worth mentioning that stood out in 1933, are the Mexican
Boby García, 20 years old, 1.62 m. tall and weighing 120 pounds, he beat Ernesto
Urbina from Granada. Later, the Granada native defeated Gustavo Choza by
beating Gustavo Choza at the Bertini Hall in Granada. On June 11, veteran Ofilio
Simonson was knocked out in the third round by Roberto Thompson. Emilio
Duarte Mike “The Killer”, in the lightweight category, clearly surpassed the
Dominican Kid Langford.
In 1950, Gustavo Vega's “Kid Centella” gold medal obtained in the sixth Central
American and Caribbean Games gave him an early dedication to Nicaraguan
boxing, influencing continuity and investment in boxing. The first three years of
the 1950s were very active, both for fighters and promoters.
The main venue where boxing events took place was in Managua, with the
boxing venues being the National Gymnasium, Redondel de El Malecón and the
National Stadium. But the western area was also rehabilitated: 1. Chinandega
(Alhambra Theatre). 2. Chichigalpa (La Pensioncita Gym and Aladino Theater). 3.
La Paz Center. 4. El Limón Mine where Tony Huerta began to hurt rivals. 5.
Corinto (Mercedes Theater and Municipal Gymnasium).
It is essential to affirm that William Martínez, born in Corinto, Chinandega, was
the first boxer who had the opportunity to compete for the World Boxing
Association (WBA) World Title in Mexico on April 22, 1972, losing the brawl with
the Mexican Ricardo Arredondo.
Here we fall to the time when Nicaraguan boxing and especially a boxer was
placed in the highest places in the world.
On February 16, 1974, Alexis Argüello (April 19, 1952), at just 22 years old, held
his first world title fight in the featherweight category and was defeated by
Ernesto “Ñato” Marcel, in the new gym in Panama, Argüello's first attempt to be
crowned was thus frustrated, however on November 23 of the same year he
faced as a challenger the experienced world champion Rubén “El Púas” Olivares
from Mexico, who was knocked out by Argüello in the thirteenth round at the
Forum. Inglewood California and leaving the indelible mark of being the first
Nicaraguan to be crowned world champion. Later, on 01/28/1978 he won the
second crown against the Puerto Rican Alfredo “El Salsero” Escalera, knocking
him out in thirteen rounds. The fight took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico on
January 28.
During the 1980s, professional boxing suffered a 10-year suspension due to the
armed conflict between Nicaraguans and the decision of the Government of
Nicaragua. However, there was continuity of boxing, but at the amateur level.
During these years the main professional figure was Alexis Argüello, who
continued his world career based abroad, achieving his third world crown on
June 20, 1981, defeating the Scot Jim Watt, by decision in fifteen rounds in
London, England and independently. His homeland no longer promoted
professional boxing. The career of “Flaco Explosivo” was impeccable and he built
an extraordinary record of ninety (90) fights, he won eighty-two (82) fights, 8
losses (4 KO), 65 knockouts, he never had a draw, his battles ended in victories or
defeats. In the different divisions, both featherweight, super featherweight,
lightweight and Jr. welterweight.
On November 20, 1990, the practice of professional boxing resumed again in the
courtyards of the house of boxing promoter Roberto Sánchez.” In this new stage,
the capital gym “Nicarao” operated, currently called Alexis Argüello.
Exactly on January 21, 1995, Alexis Argüello recorded his last fight at the age of
forty-three, fighting against Scott Walker, in the Jr. Welterweight category. in Las
Vegas Nevada where he lost by unanimous decision. Argüello, The “Knight of the
Ring”, is listed as the best athlete in this sporting discipline in our country and
world boxing places him among the 10 best Latinos.
of all time, he also belongs to the World Hall of Fame and Nicaragua named him
the best athlete of the Millennium.
Alexis died on July 1, 2009, in circumstances that are still not very clear. There
are many theories about his death, but that is a topic we will not go into, since
the topic of this podcast is not about this, but perhaps in the future we will delve
more into the life of this great Nicaraguan.
After Alexis, several boxers emerged who also managed to raise the name of
Nicaragua. We are going to highlight the 3 that had the most popularity.
The first is Rosendo Álvarez.
On September 23, 1994 , he obtained his first title in professional boxing when
he became Latin American Light Flyweight Champion endorsed by FEDELATIN-
AMB . He obtained this belt after defeating Venezuelan José Bonilla by TKO in 11
rounds.
On December 2, 1995 , he competed and won the WBA world minimum weight
crown (105 pounds), defeating the Thai Chana Porpaoin , in Sakaew , Thailand .
His last fight, on April 8, 2006 , was against the Mexican Jorge "Travieso" Arce ,
losing by TKO in six rounds.
Another one we are going to talk about is the famous Ricardo Mayora, although I
believe that his fame is due more to his scandals and peculiar way of treating his
opponents than to the titles he has won.
Born on October 3, 1973
His first professional fight was a knockout victory against Adolfo Salazar on
December 16, 2000. Although he was involved in boxing since 199
He was featured on the December 2003 cover of The Ring magazine, with a
headline that read: "Craziest Man in Sports: Mayorga Lights Up Boxing."
His final fight was a loss to Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico on March 12, 2011.
The last one I am going to talk to you about is Román “El chocolatito” González
Román Alberto González Luna was born on June 17, 1987 , Managua .
He made his professional debut on July 1, 2005 . He accumulated a record of 26-
0, which included victories against the Venezuelan José Luis Varela, the Filipino
Eriberto Gejon, the Panamanian Javier Tello and the Japanese Hiroshi
Matsumoto.
On September 15, 2008 , in a fight for the absolute WBA minimum weight world
title, he challenged the Japanese Yutaka Niida. González won by technical
knockout in the 4th round, in a fight scheduled for 12 rounds, in Tokyo , Japan .
For 2011, González had planned to compete for the WBA absolute world title at
light flyweight against the Argentine Juan Carlos Reveco , who was the title
monarch, but he was unknown by the WBA, and González obtained the absolute
world belt on February 4, 2011. .
In fight for the absolute WBC flyweight world title, on September 5, 2014 he
challenged the strong Japanese champion Akira Yaegashi . González won by
technical knockout in the 9th round, in a 12-round fight, in Tokyo , Japan,
becoming the "second Nicaraguan three-time world boxing champion in three
different categories", equaling his teacher Alexis Arguello .
On September 10 , 2016 , in Los Angeles , California , he defeated Mexican Carlos
Cuadras by unanimous decision in one of the best fights of the year in a 12-round
fight for the absolute WBC super flyweight world title, becoming the " first
Nicaraguan four-time world boxing champion in four different categories. In 2017
he was finally defeated and announced his retirement, but I think he's still there.
But it doesn't end there, in recent years Nicaragua has given something to talk
about in a sport that 25 years ago we didn't even imagine would stand out,
although the rise and professional reach is not compared to baseball or boxing,
soccer nica has begun to experience very good stages, both at the national and
inter-American level. As I mentioned at the beginning, who would have imagined
that our team would ever play with the Argentine team.
And at the national level, Real Estelí is the team that has stood out the most in
the Nicaraguan soccer league, it has even played matches with foreign teams and
has participated and won several times in the Concacaf Champions League.
But without a doubt the national team has played a very important role in soccer
in recent years, Juan Barrera is one of the players who has stood out the most in
this sport, as is Carlos Chavarría.