On Tuesday, September 8th, the passing of María de la Cruz “Toto” Murillo was announced. A legendary trainer and mentor in Panamanian boxing since the 1980s, she had a long career with the promotional companies PANAMPROM, owned by Luis Spada, and PROMOCIONES y EVENTOS DEL ISTMO, owned by Rogelio Espiño.
María “Toto” was born on May 3rd in the province of Colón, a land that produced champions such as Panama Al Brown, Ismael Laguna, Ernesto Marcel, Luis Ibarra, Guillermo Jones, Celestino Caballero, and Olympic gold medalist Irving Saladino.
María "Toto" Murillo was a true icon of Panamanian boxing. She began her career at the old Pascual Ciela Gonzales gym in the Marañón stadium during the golden age of the 1970s and 80s, later moving to San Miguelito to the gym of Argentine-Panamanian manager and promoter Luis Spada, and finally to the famous Cuadra Los Rockeros gym in the 2000s, owned by businessman Rogelio Espiño. For over four decades, she was a pioneer in her field in a sport historically dominated by men.
María began her boxing career closely associated with other boxing philanthropists such as Gaspar Mendizábal and Armando Rosero.
She worked as an assistant in the corner of world champions like Roberto "Manos de Piedra" Durán, Rosendo "El Búfalo" Álvarez, Víctor Córdoba, Carlos "El Púas" Murillo, Hilario "Bujía" Zapata, and Luis "El Nica" Concepción, with whom she was seen from the beginning.
Known for her powerful voice, unwavering character, and absolute dedication to the sport, she combined her love of boxing with her love for her community in San Miguelito, where she remained until the very end. From her home, she offered advice, support, and an open-door policy to countless boxers, offering them comfort through thick and thin.
Doña Maria "Toto" passed away on September 8th, alongside another great legend, the world champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer Ismael Laguna, thus becoming immortalized as the doyenne of Panamanian female boxing.
With her passing, Panamanian boxing loses the first woman to pursue it with such passion and dedication, but her impact beyond the ring, her neighborhood, and the sport itself will endure forever.
Thank you for your dedication, Maria "Toto."
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