After his death, Maguila’s son paid tribute to his father on social media with an emotional video and statements about acceptance and respect
This Thursday, 24th, José Adilson Rodrigues dos Santosknown as Maguilapassed away at the age of 66, leaving a remarkable trajectory in Brazilian boxing.
The news was confirmed by the athlete’s wife, Irani Pinheirowho explained that Maguila had been facing a tough battle against chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition causes symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s and is common among former boxers due to repetitive impacts to the head.
In recent days, the boxer’s health worsened due to the discovery of a nodule in his lung and respiratory complications.
Tribute to father
Shortly before his death, Junior Ahzura32, son of Maguilahad shared on his social networks a video from 1992, in which the boxer talks about homosexuality, expressing positions without prejudice for the time.
In the interview, Maguila highlighted his respect and acceptance:
“The man, the fagot [sic] it is not a disease. He was born with the gift of having sex with men. I don’t think it’s a disease. The person was born like this”, said the boxer.
Maguila he also mentioned his belief that each person has their destiny, reflecting on sexual orientation as something natural and innate.
When commenting on how he would approach the topic with his children, Maguila highlighted that he would respond in an open and direct manner, explaining that “it’s when two men kiss. They want to kiss, that’s fine”, without prejudice.
Moved, Junior declared pride in his father:
“Proud to have a father who always accepted and respected me! More than a national hero, my father!”, he wrote in the caption of the video.
The family of Maguila released an official note on his social networks expressing regret for the loss and highlighting the legacy of the former boxer, an emblematic figure in sport and for Brazilians.
The note asked for respect and privacy at this time of mourning, and informed that details about the wake and burial will be communicated soon, allowing family and friends to say goodbye and pay their respects.
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.