| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | McWilliams Arroyo Acevedo |
| Rated at | Flyweight |
| Nationality |  Puerto Rico |
| Birth date | December 5, 1985 |
| Birth place | Luquillo, Puerto Rico |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Wins by KO | 0 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's boxing | ||
| Central American and Caribbean Games | ||
| Gold | 2006 Cartagena | Light Flyweight |
| Pan American Games | ||
| Gold | 2007 Rio | Flyweight |
| World Amateur Boxing Championships | ||
| Gold | 2009 Milan | Flyweight |
McWilliams Arroyo (born December 5, 1985) is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He was introduced to boxing in his childhood, becoming involved at the age of 12. As an amateur, Arroyo represented Puerto Rico in numerous international events. He won his first major gold medal at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, defeating Yan Bartelemí Varela in the finals. In 2007, Arroyo ascended to the flyweight division, winning the division's title at the 2007 Pan American Games. He was selected to carry Puerto Rico's flag during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, deciding to compete in the event despite being in the recovery process of a leg surgery. In 2009, the Puerto Rican media gave coverage to a rivalry between Arroyo and AIBA Youth World Champion, Jonathan González. In three contests, González registered a balance of 2-1, winning the senior national championship in the process. In his last amateur competition, Arroyo won the gold medal at the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships, which were held in Milan, Italy. He is the twin brother of boxer McJoe Arroyo. Both of the Arroyo brothers won a medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships and were the second twins to qualify for the Olympics in boxing.
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McWilliams was born along his twin brother, McJoe, in the municipality of Luquillo in the northeast coastal region of Puerto Rico's main island. Arroyo and his twin, were introduced to boxing in their childhood. At the age of 12, they entered Gimnasio Fito Ramos, a gymnasium located in the municipality of Fajardo, Puerto Rico.[1] In this locale they met Anthony Otero, a retired amateur boxer, who became their trainer during this stage of their careers.[2] They initially took up the sport as a hobby, but after six fights they began establishing a pattern of only spending a limited amount of time inactive during a month, visiting the gymnasium at least every two weeks.[3] Since the early stages of their careers, the brothers decided to fight in different divisions, in order to avoid fighting against each other.[3] However, they participated in sparring sessions, performing as they would do against other sparring partners.[2]
At the 2006 Central American Games he beat Olympic Champion Yan Bartelemí Varela 14-11, and won Gold at Light flyweight.
McWilliams Arroyo knocked out Cuban Yoandri Salinas and edged out Juan Carlos Payano to grab Flyweight Gold at the Pan American Games in 2007.
In Chicago at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships he defeated Lusvanteseren Zorigtbaatar(Mongolia), Vitaliy Volkov (Ukraine) and Bato-Munko Vankeev (Belarus) to qualify for the Olympics. He lost to Samir Mammadov in the quarterfinals, though, and didn't medal.
The Arroyo twins, McWilliams and McJoe, Represented Puerto Rico in the 2008 Beijing Olympics after qualifying at the world championships. It will be the second time that twins have competed in an Olympic boxing tournament after Wladimir and Valery Sidorenko fought in the 2000 Olympics.[1] On July 2, 2008, Arroyo was selected to carry Puerto Rico's flag in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.[4] On July 8, 2008, Puerto Rico's Sports and Recreation Department offered up to $48,000 to the five boxers classified to the Olympics, if the boxers choose to continue with the team for a second Olympic cycle.[5] In respect, Arroyo expressed that he would make his decision after comparing the offers provided by the government and professional promoters.[6] As part of their training the boxing team moved to South Korea, in order to get used to the time changes.[7] Arroyo officially received the flag of Puerto Rico that was going to be used in the Olympic games on July 9, 2008.[8] After training and participating in a series of exhibition matches, the team traveled from South Korea to Beijing.[9]
Arroyo received a bye in the first round of the Olympic games. In his debut he defeated Norbert Kalucza of Hungary by points, with scores of 14-6. In the third round, Arroyo lost to Andry Laffita of Cuba, 2:11.
His next competition was the Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos, Puerto Rico's national championship tournament. In the finals, he was matched against AIBA Youth World Champion, Jonathan González. Early in the contest, González was able to use his speed and counterattack to establish control of the fight's tempo, winning the first round 3:0.[10] This pattern continued in the next stanza, where he was able to score six more points, including three in only eighteen seconds, before his opponent scored his first point.[10] Arroyo attempted to preassure the fight on the third, reducing the difference to 9:4, before González had one final advance, securing the final score of 11:5.[10] Arroyo returned to action at the XII José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, which began on May 19, 2009. Prior to the competition, the local media emphasized the rematch between him and Arroyo, labeling them as "nemesis".[11] After advancing to the finals, he was matched against González, who won the second bracket.[12] On this fight, Arroyo was able to win by points, gathering rounds of 6:3, 12:6 and 17:9.[13] The fight was described as "frenetic" and saw a change in strategy by González, who attempted to pressure the offensive.
Immediately afterwards, both pugilists competed in a third contest as part of the first Juan Evangelista Venegas Olympic Cup.[14] This event was organized by the Olympic Committee of Puerto Rico (COPUR), serving as the final qualifier to determine who would enter Puerto Rico’s national team in preparation for the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships. The first two rounds concluded with a close score of 5:4, which favored Arroyo.[14] In the third round, González connected a right hook and scored a knockdown. Arroyo stood up while still affected by the punch and was forced to receive a protective count following another offensive barrage.[14] With the score favoring him by two points 7:5, González scored three more times, while Arroyo was only able to do so once, securing a final score of 10:6.[14] Subsequently, the Federación de Boxeo Aficionado de Puerto Rico (lit. "Amateur Boxing Federation of Puerto Rico") selected Arroyo to participate in the World Amateur Boxing Championships over González.[15]
Arroyo won gold at the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships.
On December 8, 2009, the Arroyo brothers issued a press release trough their mother, Milagros Acevedo, informing that they were no longer interested in continuing their amateur careers.[16] In the letter, they report differences with the criteria used to provide economical support to high-performance athletes, as well as schedule conflicts with their original plans to pursue a professional career after the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.[16] These concerns were restated in a subsequent press conference, where they noted that supporting their respective families was the main reason to pursue a professional career.[16]
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   | Panamerican results - Panamerican Games 2007 |
| | Con la patria en sus puños - Con la patria en sus puños - Primerahora.com |
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