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In this March 16, 2013 photo, boxer Barbaro Pedroso, left, fights with Victor Aguila in a boxing tournament at the Rafael Trejos boxing gym in Old Havana, Cuba. In 2011, the country lowered the age of competition from 11 to 9 years old, beginning with a pilot program in Havana, in line with many other countries' boxing programs, and going semi-pro could be the next step toward regaining Olympic glory. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)![Cuba_Pro_Boxings_Retu_Plan_1]()
In this March 16, 2013 photo, boxer Osain Gonzalez prepares to compete in a boxing tournament at the Rafael Trejos boxing gym in Old Havana, Cuba. The island is on the verge of partially reversing five decades of strictly amateur boxing by joining a semi-pro league in which athletes are paid by sponsors and fight pro-style bouts, but still retain the Olympic eligibility that's all-important to Cuban sports authorities. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)![Cuba_Pro_Boxings_Retu_Plan_3]()
Yassian Salazar, 11, rests after training at the Rafael Trejos boxing gym in Old Havana, Cuba, early Thursday, March 21, 2013. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution. Now the island is on the verge of partially reversing five decades of strictly amateur boxing. While officials caution that no decision has been made yet, it could offer island boxers a chance to earn more money, gain more exposure in high-profile competitions and help stanch the flow of defections that has robbed Olympic delegations of some of Cuba's brightest talent and resulted in disappointing medal counts in recent years. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)![Cuba_Pro_Boxings_Retu_Plan_4]()
In this March 16, 2013 photo, boxer Norlan Yera, center, gestures on the side of the ring during a boxing tournament at the Rafael Trejos boxing gym in Old Havana, Cuba. Protective headgear has been the rule of the ring for more than 50 years in Cuba, which banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution. Now the island is on the verge of partially reversing five decades of strictly amateur boxing. Boxers would fight without the headgear they have grown accustomed to, but they expressed confidence that theyre up to the task. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)![Cuba_Pro_Boxings_Retu_Plan_2]()
In this March 16, 2013 photo, boxer Norlan Yera prepares to compete in a boxing tournament at the Rafael Trejos boxing gym in Old Havana, Cuba. If Cubans live for baseball above all other sports, boxing probably ranks second. The first bout took place in 1912 and the annals of Cuban greats include the likes of Kid Chocolate and Kid Gavilan, both winners of professional titles, plus other colorful names like "Lightning" Saguero, "Butter" Jose Legra, the Las Tunas Kid and "Puppy" Garcia. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)Boxing In Cuba
Here's a look at the history of professional boxing in Cuba, where the sport is about to make a comeback.
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- Boxing In Cuba
