Former boxer from Sergipe died this Thursday (24) at the age of 66.

Acelino Freitas, known as Popó, mourned the death of Maguila, one of the legends of national boxing, on his social networks. Former boxer José Adilson Maguila died at the age of 66, this Thursday (24).

The boxer also published a video of an advertisement that the two made together more than 10 years ago and wrote: “Rest in peace, my eternal champion”.

The Brazilian Boxing Confederation also deeply regretted the boxer’s death. “We deeply regret the loss of one of the greatest Brazilian boxers in history,” he said in a statement.

It is with great sadness that we received the news of the passing of José Adilson Rodrigues dos Santos, known as Maguila, at the age of 66. We deeply regret the loss of one of the greatest Brazilian boxers in history

Maguila represented not only boxing, but all Brazilian sport. He filled us with pride and brought the noble art to the attention of the people, infecting the fans who followed him. In terms of results, he was Brazilian champion, won the Continental of the Americas (WBC) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title. But beyond them, Maguila was an important exponent of Brazilian boxing even for those who did not know the noble art.

The entire boxing community is in mourning, our condolences go out to the family and friends of our eternal heavyweight champion!

Cleaner in Aracaju. Bricklayer in São Paulo. Adilson Rodrigues became the most charismatic boxer in Brazilian boxing. Simple and spontaneous, Maguila – a nickname he received from his friends at work due to his resemblance to the character from a famous cartoon – gained space in the media and made his fights an unmissable event on Sundays. He suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy and had been hospitalized for 28 days.

In a short time, Maguila was champion of the traditional Forja dos Champions tournament and the Campeonato Paulista. In 1983, at the age of 25, he became a professional and after just three fights he was already national champion. Six more fights, under the guidance of narrator Luciano do Valle’s company, won the South American belt.

In 2000, at the age of 42, the boxer hung up his gloves.