Bob Arum in Cuba....for charity or for boxing!?

[ИATAS]

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/blog/box_experts/post/Arum-to-visit-Cuba-on-charitable-mission?urn=box-275068

More than 53 years after his first visit, boxing promoter Bob Arum is headed to Havana, Cuba. But Arum's trip to Havana on Thursday is for a vastly different reason than his first trip, in 1957.



Arum and a group of dignitaries, including Jim Rogers, the former chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, are flying to Havana to deliver humanitarian aid to a small ***ish community that still exists on the impoverished island nation. The group needed State Department approval to make the trip, since American citizens are prohibited by law from traveling to Cuba.

Arum said the group will deliver medical supplies. His first trip, though, was a vacation. Fidel Castro did not assume power until 1959 and Americans were able to travel to Cuba. Arum was just out of Harvard Law School and looking for a good time.

"In 1957, I was a very young, very crazy and very wild guy," Arum, 78, said. "Things have changed a great deal from then and now. I saw things there that would make what I'd subsequently see in Las Vegas seem incredibly tame by comparison."



Boxing manager Luis DeCubas, a Cuban-American with many close contacts on the island, has alerted some in the boxing community there of Arum's impending visit. Boxing is a highly popular sport in Cuba and its amateur program is, arguably, the best in the world.

Arum said he isn't certain if the Cuban people are aware of him, but said he'd be happy to meet with anyone in the boxing community who would be interested in speaking.

"It would be a fascinating experience and if any of them want to talk to me, of course, I'd be delighted to meet them and hear what they have to say,"

[jri9d0]

I doubt he's going there for scouting talent, the risk alone for these fighters to defect isn't worth the hassle...

[ИATAS]

I doubt he's going there for scouting talent, the risk alone for these fighters to defect isn't worth the hassle...

why would a 78 year old man deliver supplies himself though?

Cuba is changing. I wouldn't doubt The Bobfather is there specifically for boxing purposes.

[jri9d0]

why would a 78 year old man deliver supplies himself though?

Cuba is changing. I wouldn't doubt The Bobfather is there specifically for boxing purposes.

Because he's ***ish and it would seem legitimate for a successful ***ish person to do so then that of some ordinary American.

I mean, though Cuba is changing I think even Arum know's it will be literally years before Cubans catch up with the rest of the boxing world. Granted they have a glorified boxing program but the pro's is a completely different level.

[ИATAS]

Because he's ***ish and it would seem legitimate for a successful ***ish person to do so then that of some ordinary American.

Ah, because he's ***ish! Makes perfect sense then :/

I mean, though Cuba is changing I think even Arum know's it will be literally years before Cubans catch up with the rest of the boxing world. Granted they have a glorified boxing program but the pro's is a completely different level.

Casaymayor, Gamboa, Lara, Rigondeaux, Solis, etc.

Yes, it's different but with the lack of talent in boxing in general (especially american talent) Cuba is looking like a cashcow right about now.

[jri9d0]

Ah, because he's ***ish! Makes perfect sense then :/



Casaymayor, Gamboa, Lara, Rigondeaux, Solis, etc.

Yes, it's different but with the lack of talent in boxing in general (especially american talent) Cuba is looking like a cashcow right about now.

So you think if Arum was some other American other then a successful ***ish promoter helping his fellow ***ish people the Cuban government would let him scave, sorry I think not homey

Out of the aforementioned group of fighters you have just mentioned Cassamayor was the only exception while the others the jury is still out.

[ИATAS]

So you think if Arum was some other American other then a successful ***ish promoter helping his fellow ***ish people the Cuban government would let him scave, sorry I think not homey

Arum is the only successful ***ish american?

Out of the aforementioned group of fighters you have just mentioned Cassamayor was the only exception while the others the jury is still out.

the jury is still out on their careers but they all have a buzz surrounded around them. Further, it's quite clear the talent in american amateur boxing is terrible right now, probably the worst it's ever been in the history of boxing, so I don't think it's too far fetched to believe arum might want to check out some of our neighbors. At least, one can hope

[jri9d0]

Arum is the only successful ***ish american?



the jury is still out on their careers but they all have a buzz surrounded around them. Further, it's quite clear the talent in american amateur boxing is terrible right now, probably the worst it's ever been in the history of boxing, so I don't think it's too far fetched to believe arum might want to check out some of our neighbors. At least, one can hope

Is Arum the only successful ***ish american? No, but he is the ONLY successful ***ish American making this move therefore it seems legit as suppose to an ordinary American trying to pull this off.

Please let's not get into debates about amateur boxing program, it's the pro's we care about. These eastern Europeans do not have much of an amateur boxing program and they are still dominating in divisions we would have never thought possible.

One can hope I agree, it's just that I'm not one of those sold on the notion that if communism ended over night Cuba would be the leading boxing authority by Friday.

[ИATAS]

Is Arum the only successful ***ish american? No, but he is the ONLY successful ***ish American making this move therefore it seems legit as suppose to an ordinary American trying to pull this off.

Please let's not get into debates about amateur boxing program, it's the pro's we care about. These eastern Europeans do not have much of an amateur boxing program and they are still dominating in divisions we would have never thought possible.

Eastern Europe does have good amateur boxing programs though...

But you're right, that's a different topic.

One can hope I agree, it's just that I'm not one of those sold on the notion that if communism ended over night Cuba would be the leading boxing authority by Friday.

I'm not saying that either, but they would definitely contribute to the sport and provide multiple champions. There are clearly a lot of talented fighters in Cuba. Arum is aware of this.

I'm also not saying he isn't there for charity, surely his is, but like he said if boxers want to talk to him he's open to talk. To me, and knowing arum, that kinda leads me to believe he's more than just open to talking. Think about it, he just signed Rigondeaux, already has Gamboa and does business with Ahmet Oner, who is the guy who is connected with people who sneak these cubans out of the country. I don't know, maybe it's a stretch but in my brain it makes sense. There is no risk on arum's end.

[edgarg]

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/blog/box...urn=box-275068

More than 53 years after his first visit, boxing promoter Bob Arum is headed to Havana, Cuba. But Arum's trip to Havana on Thursday is for a vastly different reason than his first trip, in 1957.



Arum and a group of dignitaries, including Jim Rogers, the former chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, are flying to Havana to deliver humanitarian aid to a small ***ish community that still exists on the impoverished island nation. The group needed State Department approval to make the trip, since American citizens are prohibited by law from traveling to Cuba.

Arum said the group will deliver medical supplies. His first trip, though, was a vacation. Fidel Castro did not assume power until 1959 and Americans were able to travel to Cuba. Arum was just out of Harvard Law School and looking for a good time.

"In 1957, I was a very young, very crazy and very wild guy," Arum, 78, said. "Things have changed a great deal from then and now. I saw things there that would make what I'd subsequently see in Las Vegas seem incredibly tame by comparison."



Boxing manager Luis DeCubas, a Cuban-American with many close contacts on the island, has alerted some in the boxing community there of Arum's impending visit. Boxing is a highly popular sport in Cuba and its amateur program is, arguably, the best in the world.

Arum said he isn't certain if the Cuban people are aware of him, but said he'd be happy to meet with anyone in the boxing community who would be interested in speaking.

"It would be a fascinating experience and if any of them want to talk to me, of course, I'd be delighted to meet them and hear what they have to say,"

He sounds exactly like the excellent charitable gentleman I have ALWAYS assumed that he is.
He is doing just what ***ish people, amongst others always do. They find people who need help, and proceed to help them. in this case it is a community of impovershed ***s.

I was on the verge of going to Cuba about 4-5 years ago, but my friend became ill and we had to abort. I intended to contact this community to see how they lived, and frankly, i was also looking for a Spanish speaking wife.

He was the originator of the trip, and knew his way around there. I didn't, and never went.