ROBERT DANIEL "The Sandman" MALDONADO, is a past three-time open division Golden Gloves champion from our club.  Danny has gone on to a spectacular professional boxing career in the featherweight (126 pound) division.   His current record as a professional is 20-2 with 13 wins by knockout. 

In February 2004, Danny defeated Whyber Garcia for the NORTH AMERICAN BOXING ASSOCIATION  CHAMPIONSHIP and the  W.B.A. LATIN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP, defeating Garcia with 32 unanswered punches in round 9. 

On November 17, 2006, Danny defeated Jose Alberto Gonzales at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for the IBA FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE.  Gonzales came into the fight with 11 straight victories and a 14-2 career record.  The fight was scheduled for 12 rounds and went the distance.  Danny won by a single point on the deciding judge's card, 114-113, while the other two judges split by identical five point margins, 116-111 and 111-116.  

Danny, 27, is from Henderson, Kentucky, and is married with four children.  He runs his own roofing business in the Evansville-Henderson area.  Danny started boxing at age 15 and won Golden Gloves titles in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 -- the last three being open division titles that sent him to the national tournament.  His final amateur record was 52-10.   Danny regularly stops by the gym and spars with our team.