Boxing legend Adilson 'Maguila' Rodrigues dies aged 66 following multiple health complications

Brazilian boxing fable Adilson 'Maguila' Rodrigues has passed distant astatine nan property of 66.

He died in Sao Paulo connected Thursday pursuing aggregate wellness complications.

Rodrigues was a WBF heavyweight champion, a WBC Continental Americas heavyweight champion, and he held nan South American title for 14 consecutive years betwixt 1986 and 2000.

His master profession ended successful 2000 pinch his grounds reference 77 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw.

Some of those defeats were against genuinely elite opposition.

Rodrigues was knocked retired by Evander Holyfield successful 1989 and past by George Foreman nan pursuing year. Both of those fights took spot successful Las Vegas.

Among nan celebrated fighters who mislaid to Rodrigues was erstwhile cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson successful 1995. Nelson is now champion known for his domiciled arsenic a Sky Sports pundit.

In 2013, Rodrigues was diagnosed pinch chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

His decease this week came aft he had received 28 days of curen for pneumonia and abdominal pain.

Following his passing, thousands of fans took to societal media to stock tributes.

One instrumentality tweeted: 'We opportunity goodbye to a awesome icon of Brazilian sports, Adilson Rodrigues, known arsenic Maguila. A combatant who, pinch his determination, took Brazilian boxing to world heights. Inside and extracurricular nan ring, Maguila was ever an illustration of overcoming obstacles, facing challenges.'