ABA wants Olympic legend Kindelan

[ICB]

The British Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) wants Cuban Olympic legend Mario Kindelan to coach their boxers in the run-up to the 2012 London Games.
Kindelan beat Britain's Amir Khan in the lightweight final at Athens 2004.

ABA chief executive Paul King said: "We hope to create a coach exchange programme which will include Mario coming to England early in 2007.

"If he gets the go-ahead he will coach youngsters in all over Britain. It will be a real feather in our caps."

As well as coaching, Kindelan would head the ABA's recruitment drive which King hopes will add another 25,000 youngsters to the current 12,000 registered amateur boxers in England.

The ABA expects an answer from Cuba by mid-December but is confident the programme, which is funded by UK Sports, will go ahead.

Kindelan, 35, also won gold at Sydney 2000 and has won three consecutive world titles.

Cuba is the leading light in amateur boxing and 56 out of the 178 countries affiliated to the International Amateur Boxing Association have Cuban coaches.

The exchange programme is due to last for three years and will offer opportunities for English coaches to coach in Cuba.

[diamonddavestafford]

Damn. Too bad we didnt get him. Kindelan was phenomenal. Im sure he will make an awesome coach. It's a shame all these great Cuban fighters never get to showcase their abilities in the professional ring here in the States.

[ICB]

Damn. Too bad we didnt get him. Kindelan was phenomenal. Im sure he will make an awesome coach. It's a shame all these great Cuban fighters never get to showcase their abilities in the professional ring here in the States.

yea excellent news i remember this guy from cuba i think it was stevenson they say he was excellent shame he never turned pro