July 21, 2015
A 21-year-old Philadelphia man, who made headlines as a boy for his perseverance and talent in the boxing ring despite having just one arm, was fatally shot Sunday night outside of his Feltonville home.
Izzadeen Burgos, who went by Izzy, lost his limb in a shooting incident in 1996 for which his father Dennis Burgos was charged and sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison.
But Burgos didn't let his disability define him and, with the mentorship of former Philadelphia Police officer Edwin 'Bo' Diaz, he became a local boxing legend.
"We called him the 'Bionic Arm'," Diaz, now retired from the police force, told The Philadelphia Daily News following his death.
Izzy Burgos was shot by his father when he was a toddler. On Sunday, he was shot to death in front of his father. http://t.co/zOEdXZyH2E
— David Gambacorta (@dgambacorta) July 21, 2015
Freelance writer Joseph Santoliquito wrote a feature article for ESPN.com on Burgos' story several years ago when he stepped into the ring at the legendary Blue Horizon gym in North Philadelphia.
"People were shocked. Here's this kid with one arm, boxing in the ring," Santoliquito told the Daily News. "It was very courageous. There was not a dry eye at ringside."
Burgos was shot and killed in front of his father, who was released from prison in March on parole. There have been no arrests in his murder and an investigation is underway.
Read the full Philadelphia Daily News article here.
