An upcoming boxer has been found dismembered in a river just one day after his losing his first professional contest.
The victim’s remains were found floating in the river by fishermen.
The body was later identified as boxer Yeiner Andrés Gómez Sandoval.
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The 28-year-old’s remains were removed from the Magdalena River just outside the city of Barranquilla, Colombia, on Monday afternoon (11 May).
On Tuesday, Yeiner’s mother identified him through his distinctive tattoos, including a snake on his torso, a dragon’s head on his shoulder, the name of his brother Cristian on his neck, and a heart on his chest.
Parts of the body, including limbs and the head, were missing, leading to a continued search in the area.
Yeiner lost his first ever professional boxing bout the day before his alleged murder.
His super bantamweight fight against Leider Galvis was the main event of the WBA Future Champions Colombia contest at the Cuadrilátero gym in Barranquilla.
Yeiner went into the bout with a record of six wins, five by knockout.
He lost the fight by a unanimous points decision, as reported by Need To Know.
After the contest, the victim spent time with his mother and daughter and was last seen leaving his home in the Carrizal neighbourhood of Barranquilla on Sunday afternoon.
His phone was switched off that evening, prompting concern from relatives who reported him as missing.
Trainer Miguel Ángel Guzmán told local media he had no knowledge of any threats or personal problems that could explain the killing.
Yeiner was viewed as a rising prospect in Colombia’s boxing scene, having turned professional after a successful amateur career.
Investigators are reconstructing the victim’s final movements and examining whether the murder is linked to personal or professional conflicts.
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