The Inactivity of Cuban Boxers?

**Redd Foxx** · 05-09-2017, 12:31 AM

Does seem to be a theme, but then you have others like Sullivan Barrera who are going after it.

**Tony Trick-Pony** · 05-09-2017, 12:49 AM

You make an interesting point. On the other hand, the list of fighters fighting once a year is so big now that I don't know that any one group is guilty. They all are.

**bambam182** · 05-09-2017, 01:47 AM

Originally posted by Shinkyokushin92

Is it me or has anyone noticed that a lot of the top Cuban boxers who are either champions or top prospects are very inactive & poorly promoted.

This thread does't really have a point but I've noticed this for quite a while now. The fighters that come to mind are:

- Erislandy Lara
- Luis Ortiz
- Yuriorkis Gamboa
- Gulliermo Rigondeaux
- Yunier Dorticos (Cruiserwight)

Is it beacuse they are boring & don't bring any money or they are just too skilled and risky.

I've also noticed they are all past their 30's.

both of those are why

**iamboxing** · 05-09-2017, 03:56 AM

I remember during fight commentary Roy Jones Cuban boxers are some of the best, but the problem is that the gyms in Cuba mostly train their fighters for the amateurs.

**Dr Rumack** · 05-09-2017, 04:49 AM

Brin-Jonathan Butler's stuff is worth reading if you want to get an insight into the mind of Cuban boxers.

Seems to be a few different factors. There can be a bit of an ego thing because a lot of these guys are gold medallists from a boxing obsessed country. So they come with a superstar complex without having any real profile in the pro game.

Then there's the terrible business decisions so many of them seem to make. Getting tied up in bad contracts with bad people, thinking they can just walk away from contracts (good or bad), and generally not getting how treacherous the business side of the game is.

Then there's also a laziness factor which I'm not entirely sure I buy. They are coming from poverty but then most boxers are. But the difference might be the enormous abundance of food in market based societies compared to Cuba, once you have some money in your pocket. It's very easy to get fat.

**Dr Rumack** · 05-09-2017, 04:51 AM

Originally posted by Shinkyokushin92

Is it beacuse they are boring & don't bring any money or they are just too skilled and risky.

This is a factor for some of them, but Ortiz and Gamboa aren't boring. Gamboa was as exciting a fighter as you could ask for.

The Inactivity of Cuban Boxers?