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Cleto Reyes was born in Mexico City on
April 26, 1920, right in the years of national
reconstruction just after ten years
of revolutionary struggle. Due to this precarious
situation he started to work at a very early age in
a leather workshop.
His passion for boxing dated from 1936; his school
was right across the street from the Peralvillo Cozumel
Arena and his sport heroes were Joe Conde, Juan Zurita
and Rodolfo “El Chango” Casanova.
In 1938 young Cleto participated in his first and only
boxing match; it was so good that the audience tossed
coins to him and his opponent; however, the injuries
were enough for him to decide never to do it again. Nevertheless,
the gloves he had been provided with, happened
to be badly worn out; so he volunteered to repair
them, thus starting his long career in the manufacture
of gloves.
Subsequently his gloves obtained the approval of the
local Boxing Commission. In April 18, 1945 Juan Zurita,
the second Mexican Lightweight World Champion, defended
his title against Ike Williams in Mexico City, and
Cleto Reyes gloves were used in a World Championship
fight for the first time.
In 1954 Don Cleto decided to become independent,
always counting on the valuable support of his wife. In
the ’60s he had his first commercial representative in Los
Angeles, California who distributed Cleto Reyes products
in the most important cities in the United States and in
some other countries.
In 1971 his son Alberto, decided to join Don Cleto’s
effort with an entrepreneurial vision and his late wife Leticia
Alemán’s support. They started hiring more people,
registered the brand Cleto Reyes in 1975 and founded
the company Industria Reyes, S.A. de C.V.
In July 1983 the company moved their manufacturing
facilities to Ecatepec and tripled the production capacity.
In early 2003, we opened a second plant in Toluca,
where we keep on expanding our capacity to continue
satisfying a growing demand and customer’s preference
for our products.
The company has received important recognitions
such as:
• In 1990 we were recognized as Empresa Altex (Exporting
Company) by the Mexican Trade and Industry
Department.
• Premio Nacional de Exportación 1994 (National Export
Award), granted annually by the Mexican Government
to distinguished Mexican companies, presented
personally by the Mexican President.
• In 2005 the World Boxing Hall of Fame granted the
Presidential Award as a posthumous recognition to
Don Cleto Reyes, founder of the Reyes glove-making
dynasty.
• In November, 2008 Alberto Reyes, president and
founder of this company, was induced to the California
Hall of Fame in the 24th Annual Banquet of the
WBHF.
Nowadays Cleto Reyes’ products have a prominent place
in the international market, and are marketed in five
continents with the approval of the main world organizations.
We proudly enjoy the world champions’ preference,
to them, our most deep appreciation for their loyal
friendship.
At first, it was necessity,
then, a great passion for boxing
and finally, his dedication to his job
were contributing factors that drove
Don Cleto Reyes Castro to devote
60 years of his life to boxing.Cleto Reyes was born in Mexico City on
April 26, 1920, right in the years of national
reconstruction just after ten years
of revolutionary struggle. Due to this precarious
situation he started to work at a very early age in
a leather workshop.
His passion for boxing dated from 1936; his school
was right across the street from the Peralvillo Cozumel
Arena and his sport heroes were Joe Conde, Juan Zurita
and Rodolfo “El Chango” Casanova.
In 1938 young Cleto participated in his first and only
boxing match; it was so good that the audience tossed
coins to him and his opponent; however, the injuries
were enough for him to decide never to do it again. Nevertheless,
the gloves he had been provided with, happened
to be badly worn out; so he volunteered to repair
them, thus starting his long career in the manufacture
of gloves.
Subsequently his gloves obtained the approval of the
local Boxing Commission. In April 18, 1945 Juan Zurita,
the second Mexican Lightweight World Champion, defended
his title against Ike Williams in Mexico City, and
Cleto Reyes gloves were used in a World Championship
fight for the first time.
In 1954 Don Cleto decided to become independent,
always counting on the valuable support of his wife. In
the ’60s he had his first commercial representative in Los
Angeles, California who distributed Cleto Reyes products
in the most important cities in the United States and in
some other countries.
In 1971 his son Alberto, decided to join Don Cleto’s
effort with an entrepreneurial vision and his late wife Leticia
Alemán’s support. They started hiring more people,
registered the brand Cleto Reyes in 1975 and founded
the company Industria Reyes, S.A. de C.V.
In July 1983 the company moved their manufacturing
facilities to Ecatepec and tripled the production capacity.
In early 2003, we opened a second plant in Toluca,
where we keep on expanding our capacity to continue
satisfying a growing demand and customer’s preference
for our products.
The company has received important recognitions
such as:
• In 1990 we were recognized as Empresa Altex (Exporting
Company) by the Mexican Trade and Industry
Department.
• Premio Nacional de Exportación 1994 (National Export
Award), granted annually by the Mexican Government
to distinguished Mexican companies, presented
personally by the Mexican President.
• In 2005 the World Boxing Hall of Fame granted the
Presidential Award as a posthumous recognition to
Don Cleto Reyes, founder of the Reyes glove-making
dynasty.
• In November, 2008 Alberto Reyes, president and
founder of this company, was induced to the California
Hall of Fame in the 24th Annual Banquet of the
WBHF.
Nowadays Cleto Reyes’ products have a prominent place
in the international market, and are marketed in five
continents with the approval of the main world organizations.
We proudly enjoy the world champions’ preference,
to them, our most deep appreciation for their loyal
friendship.
At first, it was necessity,
then, a great passion for boxing
and finally, his dedication to his job
were contributing factors that drove
Don Cleto Reyes Castro to devote
60 years of his life to boxing.
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