Cuba may allow Professional Boxing
Posted: 31 Jan 2013, 15:15
Cuba is ready to ditch a draconian rule preventing boxers turning professional which has lasted more than 50 years so they can sign up to join the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) World Series of Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Pro Boxing (APB).
Professional boxing was effecitvely banned in Cuba in 1962 because the country's former leader Fidel Castro regarded it as both corrupt and corrupting, while authorities there deemed it is too dangerous and unsafe.
But amateur boxing has been one of the most popular and successful sports in the Caribbean island in recent years, and the country is the second most successful boxing nation at the Olympic Games, with an incredible 67 medals, including 34 golds, behind the United States.
But with AIBA looking to turn the sport professional, Cuba looks set to changes its laws to allow fighters to compete in the WSB, which was launched in 2010, and the APB, which will debut later this year.
Both competitions allow fighters to compete professionally while retaining their Olympic eligibility.
http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/su ... nal-boxing
Professional boxing was effecitvely banned in Cuba in 1962 because the country's former leader Fidel Castro regarded it as both corrupt and corrupting, while authorities there deemed it is too dangerous and unsafe.
But amateur boxing has been one of the most popular and successful sports in the Caribbean island in recent years, and the country is the second most successful boxing nation at the Olympic Games, with an incredible 67 medals, including 34 golds, behind the United States.
But with AIBA looking to turn the sport professional, Cuba looks set to changes its laws to allow fighters to compete in the WSB, which was launched in 2010, and the APB, which will debut later this year.
Both competitions allow fighters to compete professionally while retaining their Olympic eligibility.
http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/su ... nal-boxing