TAMPA (October 23, 2024) – Veteran combat sports trainer Orlando Cuellar has had to purchase a larger display case for all the awards he has received during his 40-year career as a combat sports trainer.
Another prestigious award will be added when Cuellar is inducted into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame at a special ceremony on November 23rd in Tampa, Florida.
Cuellar has perfected his craft during the past several decades, starting in Miami, relocating in Las Vegas for a while and then several years in New York City. Orlando made a full circle back to Miami, where he has enjoyed his most success since he created his base there as a world-class professional boxing trainer, renowned strike coach in mixed-martial-arts, and highly respected mentor in bare-knuckle fighting as a trainer. Cuellar has also trained fighters in training camps around the world.
His remarkable coaching career has resulted in building and fine-tuning numerous world champions in boxing, MMA, and bare-knuckle fighting, as well as being the trainer/coach of a record-setting feat when his bare-knuckle fighter stopped his opponent in 3-seconds four years ago for the world’s fastest combat sports knockout.
“I’m truly honored and humbled for this wonderful recognition from the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame with its long history,” Cuellar said. “I’m looking forward to the induction ceremony on November 23rd in Tampa.”
Cuellar was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021 and International Martial Arts Hall of Fame this year, in addition to receiving the Coaches Championship Belt last year from the National Boxing Association (NBA) in association with the World Boxing Association (WBA), selected as the 2004 Trainer of the Year by Boxing Scene, and nominated several times as Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers of America Association (BWAA). He also received a Special Achievement Award in 2020 from the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame.
Master trainers like Cuellar teach their fighters, not just instruct them in the corner and hold pads. His experience is invaluable in terms of the overall success of his many combat sports fighters.
Currently, Cuellar’s latest project is Gallery Department’s Founder and Artist, Josué Thomas, who is one of Cuellar’s high-profile students, and has his sights set on Celebrity Boxing.
Josué Thomas & Orlando Cuellar
The legend continues for “Coach” Orlando Cuellar, also known in venues and gyms around the world as, “Commanderzero.”