The life of professional wrestlers

The lives of professional wrestlers are as successful and glorious as they are sad in many cases, as having an impeccable career does not mean that they have the same fortune outside the ring. This was the case with the wrestling legend in the 60s, Apolo Curiel, who died at the hands of a furious traffic officer, abruptly ending a trajectory that had a lot of potential.

Early Years

David Curiel Melendez was born in December 1937 in Tantoyuca, Veracruz, where he spent his childhood before moving to Jalapa to enroll in the normal school of the city and fulfill his dream of becoming a teacher. It was there where he developed an interest in sports and maintaining an athletic figure. He joined a gym where he met the wrestler Oso Blanco, who was impressed by his physique and saw potential in him.

Rising Star

This is how David met Heraclio Fernaly, who guided and trained him until his debut as a wrestler in 1958. His career started off on the right foot, winning regional titles in Morelos before his debut in the Arena Coliseo in Mexico City, where he suffered his first setback after losing his hair against Vick Amescua.

After facing the best and overcoming defeats, Apolo Curiel reached the climax of his career, aspiring to the middleweight world title, which he sadly lost in an epic fight against Rene Guajardo. However, he never gave up and continued to have great battles.

His Assassination

After fighting alongside the legend Huracán Ramírez, on July 12, 1968, Apolo decided to travel to Guadalajara, where he wrestled alongside the Spanish wrestler Manolo Pollman, without imagining that it would be his last performance.

After the match, Pollman and Apolo decided to celebrate at a nightclub, where they stayed until the early hours of the morning. Some traffic officers went to the place, and one of them attempted to attack Curiel, but he easily defeated him. However, he didn't imagine that the officer would wait for him outside the club seeking revenge. Without thinking twice, the officer shot and killed him at the age of 30.

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