BoxRec

It's only guess work of course, but if they turned (or were allowed to..) professional, how do you think the top Cuban boxers would fair?

Would Kindelan be a star of De La Hoya proportions, or "top 20" material in his respective weight class?

I know a few people who are absolutely adament that Ali would not have had the beating of Stevenson for example...

It begs the question, in the modern age, why some of the Cuban boxers don't look to defect (to the US) and persue a professional career. With so much potential money to be made I'm surprised some of them haven't taken this option.

We see Cuban politicians, artists, authors & writers head to Florida on a boat..never to return to Casto's regime... so I wonder why the sporting stars they have there never seem to consider it?

Plenty of athletes have flown the Cuban nest, with varying results.

Casamayor, Olympic Gold Medalist from 1992, has established himself as one of the elite Super Feathers in World boxing and his style has transitioned nicely to the pro game.

The same could be said of Juan Carlos Gomez at Cruiserweight, and more recently heavyweight.

Others, such as Ramon Garbey and Elicer Castilo(Spl?), have faired less well.
Felix Savon was offered massive money to face Tyson but was unfased by these frequent overtures, such was his belief in the Communist system and Fidel Castro.

Boxers in Cuba may not be multi millionaires like there American counterparts, but they are revered, held in high esteem and to many this is reward enough.

The point should also be made that many fighter's who flea Cuba, such as Jorge Gonzalez, leave their families behind in the search of fortune. In Gonzalez's case, all he apparently found was a love for America's fast food industry.

Thanks Terry - great post.

Kindelan would be a world champion IMO.

I RECOMMEND the book

' IN THE RED CORNER ' by John Duncan

Its all about Cuban Boxing, especially Duncan trying to set up a fight between SAVON and MIKE TYSON!



NOBODY CAN BEAT MIKE TYSON WHEN HE'S 100% MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY FOCUSED.

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You won't see many young Cubans at tournaments abroad, it's mostly older fighters (late twenties or more) that are sent out so if they try and defect it's harder for them to develop a career/reputation in the paid ranks and cash in.

Loftgroov I recommend a book by John Duncan entitled "In The Red Corner - A Journey Into Cuban Boxing". It really is a cracking read. Flip through those pages and you'll soon see why the likes of (particularly) Savon and Stevenson chose not to flee their country for the chance to earn big bucks as professional fighters.

Nasty & Kilburn - Many thanks, I'll definitely have a read of that!

Stevenson was a true believer in the communist system. He must've been: turning down the millions on offer to face Ali ( think one of the proposals was a 5 round bout?) Then when he retires after repeated Gold medal triumphs at the Olympics, his reward from the Cuban government? A............bicycle.

anyone seen that documentary that does the rounds on cable/sky from time to time? I think it's on ukhorizons, it's called boxeo cuba.
Well worth watching

Cuba could be a real force in world boxing if they condoned the pro game, some of there boxers are superb. However whether there success would travel from the amateurs to the pro game is unknown, what is to say that would all make the transition? I have never understood Fidel's stance on pro Boxing, many of his golden eggs would bring in great revenue for the country with super fights. I know Don King has offered to promote fights there...maybe when he's gone (which won't be long) it will all change.

MightyWarrior wrote: his reward from the Cuban government? A............bicycle.

Wasnt that casamayor? after he had refused to join the communist youth organisation?

The_Power wrote:

MightyWarrior wrote: his reward from the Cuban government? A............bicycle.

Wasnt that casamayor? after he had refused to join the communist youth organisation?

No I'm sure I read Stevenson has a large Chopper.