Comments Thread For: Ahmet Oner Has Big Hopes For Cuban Pro Sullivan Barrera

[budfr]

I really wish Oner would keep his slimy mitts off our prospects.

If he didnīt they would be still amateurs and living in Cuba, not that is a bad thing to live there like American media tells us.

[CubanGuyNYC]

If he didnīt they would be still amateurs and living in Cuba, not that is a bad thing to live there like American media tells us.

Oner has nothing to do with our fighters remaining amateurs or not. If they defect from Cuba, they can be picked up by any promoter. Any promoter would be happy to represent guys like Gamboa or Rigondeaux. Oner just happened to be in the right place at the right time, with hungry Cuban defectors who know no better.

As for American media portraying Cuban society in a bad light, you're only partially right. I have much family still on the island and I can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, they would rather live the way Americans do. Sure, Cubans love their land and culture; but family and familiarity are mostly what makes Cuban living desirable to them. There's a reason why so many Cubans risk their lives to come to the U.S., and it's not because it's so great to live under Castro.

[HeroBando]

Oner has nothing to do with our fighters remaining amateurs or not. If they defect from Cuba, they can be picked up by any promoter. Any promoter would be happy to represent guys like Gamboa or Rigondeaux. Oner just happened to be in the right place at the right time, with hungry Cuban defectors who know no better.

As for American media portraying Cuban society in a bad light, you're only partially right. I have much family still on the island and I can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, they would rather live the way Americans do. Sure, Cubans love their land and culture; but family and familiarity are mostly what makes Cuban living desirable to them. There's a reason why so many Cubans risk their lives to come to the U.S., and it's not because it's so great to live under Castro.

He has always matched them aggressively, one good thing you can say about him. And brought them over to Miami, and signed some pretty good copromotional deals with the TR/GBP. He could have left them languishing in Germany, like the Irish Cubans.

But even post (or pre) Castro, you couldn't expect the same standard of living in Cuba you're getting here. It's just that for most other athletes, realizing their potential doesn't involve anything drastic like defecting these days.

[onechance87]

Barrera is nothing special.Very boring guy

[CubanGuyNYC]

He has always matched them aggressively, one good thing you can say about him. And brought them over to Miami, and signed some pretty good copromotional deals with the TR/GBP. He could have left them languishing in Germany, like the Irish Cubans.

But even post (or pre) Castro, you couldn't expect the same standard of living in Cuba you're getting here. It's just that for most other athletes, realizing their potential doesn't involve anything drastic like defecting these days.

You're right about the bold. But let's not forget that it serves Oner's interests as well. The more money his fighters make, the more money he makes.

Wealthy Cubans enjoyed a very high standard of living, pre-Castro. Now even those at the top don't enjoy nearly the same kind of perks they would in the Free World. Someone with real ability -- in this case, an athletic gift -- has very limited potential in Cuba. Once they're outside, they can cash in big-time.

Here's just one example: Cuban singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio have a total estimated worth of 700 million dollars(!). If they were in Cuba, they might enjoy some relatively laughable communist government perks. The same goes for star Cuban boxers. There's a well-known story about Gamboa selling his Olympic gold medal so he could pay for his daughter's birthday party. Think about that....