Cuba aims to stem tide of disappearing talent

Cuba aims to stem tide of disappearing talent
01-08-2007, 04h54
HAVANA (AFP)

Cuba has called on its boxing authorities to stem the flow of talent
that continues to quit the impoverished Communist nation. Many boxers,
such as current WBC lightweight champion and 1992 Olympic gold medallist
Joel Casamayor, pictured in October, find their way to the United States
to start up professional careers that are banned under the regime of
Fidel Castro
(AFP/Getty Images/File)

Cuba has called on its boxing authorities to stem the flow of talent
that continues to quit the impoverished Communist nation.

Every year, Cuba loses some of its top athletes, particularly boxers and
baseball players, who choose to escape the country for pastures new.

Many boxers, such as current WBC lightweight champion and 1992 Olympic
gold medallist Joel Casamayor, find their way to the United States to
start up professional careers that are banned under the regime of Fidel
Castro.

Cuba is now trying to find a way to hold onto its greatest talents and
boxing bosses have been told to set up an elite national squad "inside
and outside the ring" to fend off the vultures.

Offical state newspaper Granma said: "In various Olympic forums, such as
the National Assembly of Olympic Committees and the Pan-American Sports
Organisation, Cuba has denounced the harassment that it's sports suffer
at the hands of unscrupulous dealers, which it describes as a theft of
talents."

It singled out the United States as the prime importer of boxing talent.

"In most cases, the traffickers illegally transfer sportsmen to the
United States whose authorities show indifference," added Granma.

The Cuban denunciation of this phenomenon took place just over a week
before the beginning of the national championships.

Granma called for a "thorough revision" of boxing on the island nation
without offering any clear details as to how it intended to hold onto
talent that was barred from turning professional in its own country but
could do so by escaping Cuba.

The national championships are particularly important as it is being
seen as a vital tournament in determining the Cuban team that will head
to Beijing next year for the Olympic Games.

Cuba is considered to be the top amateur boxing nation in the world and
has an impressive history in the sport, claiming 32 Olympic gold medals.

AFP

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