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Oscar Bonifacino, the Uruguayan boxer fighting for the LGBTQ+ community
At just 21, Oscar Bonifacino has become one of the most inspiring voices in Latin American boxing. Born in Maldonado, Uruguay, and trained within the nurturing environment of the Uruguayan Amateur and Professional Boxing Commission (CUBAP), Bonifacino broke into the professional scene only a few months ago. But beyond his victories in the ring, his story transcends sport: he is Uruguay’s first openly gay boxer, and he proudly owns it.
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From a tough childhood to a rebirth in boxing
Oscar grew up in tough conditions in a settlement on an abandoned quarry on the outskirts of Maldonado. Coming from a large family with a violent father, his childhood was marked by hardship and abuse.
“Since I was little, I suffered physical violence from my dad, people around me discriminated against me, and I absorbed all the negative things,” he shared in an interview with the Argentine outlet TN.
In his teenage years, things got even more complicated. Rebellion and his environment led him into risky situations. “I eventually got shot in the foot for being in places I shouldn’t have been,” he recalled. In that dark context, boxing emerged as a lifeline thanks to his sister-in-law Jacque, who encouraged him to channel his energy into the sport. At just 18, he put on the gloves for the first time.
Luis Castro Veloz was his first coach, who believed in him from the start. A month after he began training, he made his amateur debut and won. That first victory revealed something crucial: he had found his place in the world. Since then, boxing became his refuge and his purpose.
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During one of his early fights, he met Elizabeth Cabrera, a professional boxer and trainer. She became a key figure in his life. “More than my trainer, she’s like a mother. From day one, she opened her gym and her home to me, helped me with food, and gave me clothes,” Bonifacino shared. Cabrera was also the first person to whom he revealed his sexual orientation, a crucial step for his emotional well-being.
It was during his time as an amateur boxer that Oscar finally came to accept and share his identity. In an interview with Clarín, he recalled: “When I lived with my father, he used to beat me to straighten me out, and I had shut down that part of myself, telling myself: ‘I’m not gay.’ But when I started boxing, I realized who I truly was.” That moment of liberation marked a turning point in both his career and his life.
Breaking Stereotypes in the Ring
On February 22, 2025, Bonifacino made his professional debut in Maldonado, winning by technical knockout in the second round. At the end of the fight, he took the microphone and spoke the words that would change his story: “I am a free person, I am a gay man.” In a sport dominated by masculinity stereotypes, his declaration made a powerful impact.
“I fight for the LGBT community, to break all the stereotypes and barriers in society,” he said in the interview with TN. “I want to help those who weren’t able to raise their voice. Let them look at me and say, ‘If he can be there, then I can also be who I am.'”
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In June, his name was in the spotlight again when he participated in the KO to Drugs festival in Buenos Aires, organized by the World Boxing Association. He fought right after Filipino star Nonito Donaire, defeating Argentina’s Matías Yanguas by points. That night, he stepped into the ring with a band bearing the colors of the rainbow flag, reaffirming his commitment to visibility and pride.
“Boxing is seen as a very masculine sport where you can’t show fragility, so to speak. I want to prove them wrong. I’m an athlete with a different sexual orientation, but in the ring, I’m just another guy and I want to give it my all,” he declared with conviction.
A Rising Star in Latin American Boxing
After his debut, Bonifacino signed a contract with renowned Uruguayan promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, who has worked with figures like Manny Pacquiao and Sergio “Maravilla” Martínez. Lewkowicz strongly believes in his potential: “Oscar is very responsible and has a forward-moving style. I think he will become the most famous boxer in South America,” he predicted.
Bonifacino, for his part, is focused and ambitious. “I believe that in two or three years I’ll be fighting for a title. I don’t know if it will be a world championship, but it will definitely be one that brings me closer to that goal,” he stated.
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Now living in Montevideo, Bonifacino trains daily with his eyes set on the future, but also on those watching him from outside the ring. His story is of someone who survived pain, embraced his truth, and turned it into strength. “Five years ago, I thought about ending my life,” he wrote on his social media. “But when I was able to say who I am, a huge weight was lifted and today I am here to shine.”
With each punch, Oscar Bonifacino proves that courage is measured not just in physical strength, but in the bravery to be oneself.
