How good could Mario Kindelan of been?

[big paulie]

The communist system in Cuba prevent s boxers from turning professional in the sense of the fighting under professional rules. However and this sort of addresses the question of the thread, boxers (like most sportspeople) in communist countries are propoganda figures, the state throws their weight behind them and basically supports them financially.

The upshot of this is that Cuban boxers are professionals in all but name and the rules of the game, the state supports their families they don't have to worry about loosing their job if they train too much in the way a US or western european boxer has too. From the age of 12 any potential in boxing or athletics is spotted and those kids are spent to special schools that devote a large percentage of the ciriculum to that schools particular specialty sport. This gives an unbelievebly competitive youth competition culture, so the best that emerge are the very best.

When you add in the constant brainwashing of the state that to compete is to show superiority of the Cuban political system (to quote Tefilio Stevenson why defect and turn pro? What is worth more millions of dollars or the love of millions of Cubans?) and the cars and flats you are given (ok not Money Mayweather pay, but big privileges compared to the average Cuban) an you basically have a professional fighting against amatuers.

If you add in the natural talent for boxing pre Castro (Kid Chocolate, Kid Gavilan) it is not suprising that they dominate.

Teofilio Stevenson lives in very small and humble house reminisent of most other Cubans, i agree the top athletes out there are looked after but the perks are humble. Stevenson, Savon and im sure other top amateur boxers were offered millions of dollars to turn over but didnt. As for them being basically professionals fighting amateurs, well, Amir khan was well looked after when he was amateur, had huge grants at his disposal and therefore did not have to worry about work, he was training full time so to all intents and purporses was a pro himself. Having visited Cuba several times and witnessed first hand at the lack of quality training equipment (some gloves must have been 30 years old!) its amazing how they have dominated the amateur game

[Degsy]

Teofilio Stevenson lives in very small and humble house reminisent of most other Cubans, i agree the top athletes out there are looked after but the perks are humble. Stevenson, Savon and im sure other top amateur boxers were offered millions of dollars to turn over but didnt. As for them being basically professionals fighting amateurs, well, Amir khan was well looked after when he was amateur, had huge grants at his disposal and therefore did not have to worry about work, he was training full time so to all intents and purporses was a pro himself. Having visited Cuba several times and witnessed first hand at the lack of quality training equipment (some gloves must have been 30 years old!) its amazing how they have dominated the amateur game

That's what I'm saying, the kids want to do it for Cuba not for money, yeah its not perfect but Stevensons comments regarding the love of cubans over dollars says it all. They'd have some brilliant pros, but whereas Khan was tempted out before China (and a gold) their guys stay for the whole of their careers. I haven't got a downer on Cuba per se, but because of the rule differences between pro and am, you won't get the same situation as Hockey and Basketball. There is something pure in their boxing, even if you hate the regime