Yuriorkis Gamboa

CUBA Libre

An effigy to the human spirit

 Because of the indomitable human spirit that sets men to dreaming all over the world, I have a notion that some hold sacred the idea of a better place.  Like incarcerated men recognizing the effort of keeping their sanity is becoming too great, so too some Cuban fighters come to this revelation. For staying in Cuba a fighter must give up some part of what is best in him. Perhaps it is this sense of oppression, or fear of remaining less, that compels some to the search for a new life. For what the Lord placed in men's hearts cannot be contained by ocean, culture or political ideology.  Only in reaching for even the most modest life do they bury their past and find new purpose. Like men born out of their due place, the oppressive lives known in the laborious gyms of Havana now remain but a place of passage.

In a Communist country where your every move is monitored, dangerous defections and the uncertain journey of the Cuban fighter has become a haunting symbol of a failed ideology.

Since the Cuban revolution of 1959, they have been making this unheralded trip. World class skills denied immigration through ideology remains both intriguing and a challenging aspect of the smuggle to extract immense Cuban talent by the upper echelons of boxing management. When fighting for country , honor and Fidel turn to fighting for fame fortune and a much better quality of life, the Cuban fighter's dilemma can prove a perilous endeavor.  A black market system of cash and connections have made defecting at international competitions a thing of the past . Promoters by way of Havana middlemen, have passed to them word of a fighter wishing to leave.  Promoters willing to smuggle them, willing to pay bribes to Mexican police and the Cuban Coast Guard, make defecting on speedboats an increasing enterprise. As a result, the last three years have seen a slew of Cuban talent pour into the pro ranks.

Castro's refusal to permit his athletes to turn professional is echoed in his 1962 decree: Enrich the few at the expense the many.  Most recently Castro withdrew the Cuban team from the World championships in Chicago. The Cuban boxing federation released a statement that read in part, "We will not expose a Cuban team again to the excesses and provocations that in this case would occur in Chicago; U.S. territory is an ideal location for merchants and traffickers to act freely with the complicity of  U.S. authorities."

"Imagine all the sharks of the mafia wanting fresh meat," the convalescing 80 year old Castro wrote in a column published on the front page of the Communist party newspaper, Granma. "I must tell them. We are not keen on delivering it to their doorstep," Castro said, commenting on an attempt by German boxing promoters to hire two of Cuba's top fighters during the Pan American games in Brazil two years ago. Castro also accused the U.S. of stealing Cuba's best athletes with promises of riches, saying the defecting boxers had been" knocked out cold" by U.S. dollars.  But, when all a fighter can hope for is a substandard existence and denial of basic freedoms, who is truly being exploited?

 Defections have been occurring for fifty years and have become increasingly prevalent in the last eighteen.  Of the most recent names to come out of Cuba it's Erislandy Lara, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Guillermo Rigondeaux that seem the most promising.  Not since the early days of Castro's regime have we witnessed such a flood of talent.  

In escaping their homeland, fighters often fear for the family they've left behind.  It is not uncommon for a defecting fighter's family to receive harsh treatment from the islands regime. Meanwhile, adjusting to a foreign culture, learning a new language, and making sacrifices somehow seem like worthwhile risks, especially in light of former generations whose greatly talented amateurs ended up with nothing.

The mystique of the world's top amateur system, often earns the Cuban fighter a place on the U.S. pedestal. Tremendous amateur experience reinforced by other well seasoned Cuban fighters, make the Cuban amateur an admired and much sought after commodity.  But, extended engagement in the amateur system can have its drawbacks. Going from amateur to pro is a transition only some can make. Others show a lack of inside fighting knowledge, and some come here too late, worn from years of amateur combat. Also, having lived under constant surveillance and the threat of banishment from the boxing program, discipline as a result, was not a choice.  

By contrast, discipline becomes an issue when left to their own vices here in the U.S. Some  find the temptations of eating, drinking and nightlife much too alluring. However, the two most promising prospects, of the most recent defectors, Rigondeaux and Gamboa, seem to be very focused and passionate about the sport.  In the words of Teddy Atlas, "Rigondeaux is very calm.  He's got good vision, great reflexes, a great temperament, and takes care of his opponents  reckless aggression, displaying an uncommon wisdom for a man his age."

  Freddie Roach commented; "He does not fight like an amateur, and he's very fresh for 28 years old.  He's had all the experience in the world and fights more like a slick pro fighter.  He's also very dedicated and wants to earn a world title."  Freddie once asked Rigondeaux, "After you win a world title will you take me to Cuba?"  Rigondeaux replied, "You can go, but I'll be killed!"  Freddie goes on to say, "He's in training under me because of the many distractions he encountered in Miami. We don't communicate that well but I've got a couple of translators.  He's got knockout power, reminds me of James Toney, and when he explodes on you, it's over!"

But of these two, it's Gamboa's hand speed, power and mass appeal, even to the most casual boxing fans, that has generated the most publicity. Having fought on HBO and won an interim belt, he's the talk of the boxing world. Because of the impressive qualities of determination and focus he exemplifies, some feel he's destined to become a world champion.

"Obviously I am very happy because I have satisfied every goal that I have set for myself," he said. But, I have many more goals to accomplish and won't be fully satisfied until I reach all of them. I plan to stay 126 lbs.  Once I make a name for myself in this division I will seek to go up a category or two.  Chris John and Raphael Marquez are high on his wish list, but "any champion that has made a name for himself and wants to challenge me, tell them I am here for the task," he said.

 Like cigars from the same island, Cuban fighters are considered the best in the world. But even amongst the best, it is not a safe bet that all will find ascendancy.  Great amateurs do not always become successful pros, no matter where they come from, and given all that the Cuban amateur has to endure, it's a wonder any of them find success in the pro ranks. When the Cuban fighter defects, he has already endured so much that becoming pro is either do or die. When one considers the stress each fighter must endure for the chance to turn pro, it' a near miracle any ascend the summit of the sport.

 Some boxing insiders think it unfortunate that promising young men from oppressed and underprivileged backgrounds find their way to America, only to have their dreams go unrealized. But others see it as an unyielding and necessary plight of the human condition, and an effigy to the human spirit.