Cuba Allows Its Boxers to Fight Professionally

Rumors swirled that the federation sidelined Cruz to prevent him from defecting, while official statements variously described the decision as tactical, strategic, or disciplinary.

For his part, Cruz, 26, apologized to boxing fans on Twitter for the delay in his professional debut.

“I wanted it for you all,” Cruz wrote. “It was out of my hands. The dream continues.”

Even with defections, Cuba’s results have not suffered. Now, the open question is whether that can carry into the professional game.

“Even though it’s boxing, it’s a different sport,” emphasized Saldívar, the Golden Ring president.

The ring in Aguascalientes was 16 feet by 16 feet, the smallest most jurisdictions allow. That cramped the space for Cuban fighters to maneuver, or, as the coach Acebal put it, to “dance and thump.” In the run-up to the fight, Cuban coaches had adapted training for the transition from three rounds to six.

That transition can be brutal.

“Amateur boxing is more about touching and scoring points,” said Ramírez, who was knocked down just seconds into his first pro fight by a little-known American in 2019. “Professional is about doing damage.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/30/sports/boxing-cuba.html