After greater than six a long time, skilled boxing is making a long-awaited return to Cuba. On April 11, the island will as soon as once more host a professional battle card, marking a historic comeback sanctioned by the World Boxing Affiliation (WBA), with championship titles on the road. The occasion will happen on the Meliá Internacional Lodge in Varadero, organized by AGON Sports activities in collaboration with the Cuban Boxing Federation and beneath the WBA’s official approval.
This return is nothing in need of a milestone. The final time skilled boxing graced Cuban soil was again in 1961. On October 27 of that yr, in Havana’s Palacio de los Deportes, Paul Díaz scored a fifth-round knockout over Julio Carreras in what would turn into the ultimate sanctioned professional bout within the nation—till now.
For over six a long time, skilled boxing was banned in Cuba, forcing generations of Cuban fighters to make their mark solely within the novice ranks. And mark it they did—Cuban boxing has dominated the Olympic and novice world championship circuits, producing a few of the best skills the game has ever seen.
Nevertheless, with Cuba reopening the doorways to skilled boxing in 2022 and now securing this partnership with AGON Sports activities, the game is about for a long-overdue revival on the island. This occasion is anticipated to usher in a brand new period of thrilling battles, giving Cuban followers the prospect to see their homegrown expertise compete for prestigious WBA titles on house turf.
The cardboard will showcase a few of Cuba’s most embellished fighters, together with Julio César La Cruz, Arlen López, Erislandy Álvarez, and Lázaro Álvarez. All of them have conquered the novice scene, amassing a number of Olympic and world championship medals. Now, they’re able to transition to the professional ranks and showcase their abilities beneath the brilliant lights of an expert ring.
“It is a historic second for boxing,” stated Ingo Volckmann, president of AGON Sports activities. “It’s an awesome honor for us to work with a few of the most elite fighters on this planet and be a part of this new chapter for Cuban boxing.”
The wait is over—Cuba is again within the battle sport.
