As a boxing lover he stood out as an amateur, and out of 6 fights he won five and one was a draw. That cheerful young man, a lover of music and the sport of fists, was also an interested reader of José Martí's works. On July 25, 1953, he was to take part in the Golden Gloves tournament, but was declared a loser due to absence. The young boxer had left for the eastern territory to fight another battle, the assault on the Moncada Barracks, prelude to the last and definitive deed of the Cuban people for their freedom. He went to Santiago de Cuba and in Granjita Siboney he learned that he would participate in the group that would directly assault the barracks. When the action failed, he was later imprisoned, tortured and assassinated. The Cuban sports movement annually pays tribute to this martyr by holding the Giraldo Cordoba Cardin Boxing Tournament.

Giraldo Córdoba Cardín Boxing Tournament

It is the main boxing event held in Cuba with the participation of Cuban and foreign boxers. The event is named after Giraldo Cordova Cardin in honor of the young revolutionary boxing enthusiast who participated in the assault on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953 in Santiago de Cuba.