(2 of 2)
These days Rapidez confines his lessons to the boxing school that he built with his own hands on the outskirts of Mexico City. Drawing hopefuls from Mexico, the Caribbean and as far away as the Zaire Republic, he has built up a stable that includes the 1968 Olympic flyweight champion and no less than seven Mexican Golden Gloves champions. He foresees the day when his fighters—with the help of the Rapidez rituals—will dominate all of the lower-weight classes. "Yes, I have some superstitions," he says, "but I believe in God and the Catholic saints." And a chicken in every dressing room.