The Cuban defectors

seems like a lot of Cuban fighters defecting these days. Not sure if there's a specific reason for why its happening now but they do seem to be ending up in Germany.

There's a heavyweight, Odlanier Solis, I think 3-0. Think Bilbo or somebody made a thread about him. Kind of out of shape looking but fast.

Also two smaller guys, Yuriorkis Gamboa, two time Gold medalist. There's a video from youtube on him in my prospects thread. Very fast, very accomplished amateur. Think he's fighting at 130.

Also a guy named Rigondeaux, Gold medal guy at bantamweight I think, apparently one of the most impressive guys at the Olympics last year.

I think Gamboa and Rigondeaux were two of the biggest name guys on Cuba's team, should be able to make an impact.

Anybody know more about these guys?

hello oumafan guillermo rigondeaux ortiz is a very fast in an out boxer puncher 2 time olympic gold 2 time world gold real good cant wait to see him fight live ive been keepin tabs on this kid 4 years ever since he beat us clarence vinson 2olympics ago vinson is fast but this kid is superfast watch him youll see. also normally just browse but hello all great site

one of the boxers that just deflected has a 244-4 amateur record i think it was

People actually responded to this post :o

actually thanks for the info Alan

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

seems like a lot of Cuban fighters defecting these days. Not sure if there's a specific reason for why its happening now but they do seem to be ending up in Germany.

There's a heavyweight, Odlanier Solis, I think 3-0. Think Bilbo or somebody made a thread about him. Kind of out of shape looking but fast.

Also two smaller guys, Yuriorkis Gamboa, two time Gold medalist. There's a video from youtube on him in my prospects thread. Very fast, very accomplished amateur. Think he's fighting at 130.

Also a guy named Rigondeaux, Gold medal guy at bantamweight I think, apparently one of the most impressive guys at the Olympics last year.

I think Gamboa and Rigondeaux were two of the biggest name guys on Cuba's team, should be able to make an impact.

Anybody know more about these guys?

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it all about family and opportunity. Cuba is ruled by an iron fist, athletes work for the government, they don’t get paid . sporting events in Cuba are free to the public. if a citizen defects his or her family will pay the price with imprisonment .

now if an athletes family can be secured and the opportunity is there, who wouldn’t go? going from dirt floors and living in poverty, to having the opportunity to make a real living to better your family.

The Cuban officials pick which athletes go into what sports. they look at kids as young as 6 years old.. looking for solid builds and long armed blokes , then tell them they are going to be a boxer , train them as such, that is one of the reasons why Cuba always have a solid boxing program.

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Originally Posted by Lords Gym

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

seems like a lot of Cuban fighters defecting these days. Not sure if there's a specific reason for why its happening now but they do seem to be ending up in Germany.

There's a heavyweight, Odlanier Solis, I think 3-0. Think Bilbo or somebody made a thread about him. Kind of out of shape looking but fast.

Also two smaller guys, Yuriorkis Gamboa, two time Gold medalist. There's a video from youtube on him in my prospects thread. Very fast, very accomplished amateur. Think he's fighting at 130.

Also a guy named Rigondeaux, Gold medal guy at bantamweight I think, apparently one of the most impressive guys at the Olympics last year.

I think Gamboa and Rigondeaux were two of the biggest name guys on Cuba's team, should be able to make an impact.

Anybody know more about these guys?

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it all about family and opportunity. Cuba is ruled by an iron fist, athletes work for the government, they don’t get paid . sporting events in Cuba are free to the public. if a citizen defects his or her family will pay the price with imprisonment .

now if an athletes family can be secured and the opportunity is there, who wouldn’t go? going from dirt floors and living in poverty, to having the opportunity to make a real living to better your family.

The Cuban officials pick which athletes go into what sports. they look at kids as young as 6 years old.. looking for solid builds and long armed blokes , then tell them they are going to be a boxer , train them as such, that is one of the reasons why Cuba always have a solid boxing program.

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I just meant why all of a sudden now. I know they want to get paid, I was just wondering why three or four all of a sudden defected.

I would assume there was an amateur tournament in some other country, and they just decided that now was the time.

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lords Gym

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

seems like a lot of Cuban fighters defecting these days. Not sure if there's a specific reason for why its happening now but they do seem to be ending up in Germany.

There's a heavyweight, Odlanier Solis, I think 3-0. Think Bilbo or somebody made a thread about him. Kind of out of shape looking but fast.

Also two smaller guys, Yuriorkis Gamboa, two time Gold medalist. There's a video from youtube on him in my prospects thread. Very fast, very accomplished amateur. Think he's fighting at 130.

Also a guy named Rigondeaux, Gold medal guy at bantamweight I think, apparently one of the most impressive guys at the Olympics last year.

I think Gamboa and Rigondeaux were two of the biggest name guys on Cuba's team, should be able to make an impact.

Anybody know more about these guys?

---

it all about family and opportunity. Cuba is ruled by an iron fist, athletes work for the government, they don’t get paid . sporting events in Cuba are free to the public. if a citizen defects his or her family will pay the price with imprisonment .

now if an athletes family can be secured and the opportunity is there, who wouldn’t go? going from dirt floors and living in poverty, to having the opportunity to make a real living to better your family.

The Cuban officials pick which athletes go into what sports. they look at kids as young as 6 years old.. looking for solid builds and long armed blokes , then tell them they are going to be a boxer , train them as such, that is one of the reasons why Cuba always have a solid boxing program.

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I just meant why all of a sudden now. I know they want to get paid, I was just wondering why three or four all of a sudden defected.

I would assume there was an amateur tournament in some other country, and they just decided that now was the time.

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you are correct, thats usually how the get out, via the amat tourny's outside cuba. which was the care here.

Since Castro doesnt allow Cuban boxers to go pro when they dissapear they usually show up in a year or two in the pros fighting out of another country. Cuba has the greatest amateur boxers in the world they are unbelievible, but cant blame them for wanting to get paid and take care of their families. Many of these guys out of Cuba would have been world champions throughout the years if they were allowed to turn pro. The boxing landscape would be a lot different.

There have been some previously. Jorge L. Gonzalez was a real good amateur, as was Joel Casamayor and Diobelys Hurtado. Cracks me up Gonzalez had beaten Bowe and Lewis in the amateurs but didn't adjust too well to the pros.

It's great to see some top class Cubans defecting. Shame they didn't start doing it years ago.

Two of the Cuban boxers who defected were arresed in Brazil and deported back to Cuba. Hopefully Fidel aint to hard on them like he says :-\

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...33&sec=apworld