European Boxers Fear Cuban Boxers

This statement isn’t mine or anything of the sort—it came to me from none other than a German, Ingo Volkmann, the director of the company (AGON Sports) that oversees the Domadores de Cuba, the representatives of the Cuban boxing school.

“To be honest,” he confessed to me aside, “it’s really hard to get them a fight in Germany. Latin Americans aren’t as cautious with Cubans. Mexicans, Argentinians, are bolder. In Europe, it’s sometimes really difficult to find opponents for them.”

The executive expressed great satisfaction with the partnership established with the Domadores, which began this year.

“It’s always a pleasure to be here, with the best boxers in the world, in my opinion. This is the second event we’ve done, and I hope we do more because it’s an excellent venue,” he told us regarding the second Cuban Boxing Night recently held in Varadero.

However, he acknowledged the difficulty of breaking into the professional circuit in the United States, where the most high-profile fights take place each season.

Volkmann explained that with the fighters based in the largest of the Antilles, the entire process is complicated by the inherent obstacles posed by U.S. laws.

“But I do boxing in Kazakhstan, I can’t choose, and I do boxing elsewhere,” he stated without a hint of doubt, like someone who sleeps with a clear conscience knowing he hasn’t failed due to a lack of effort.

“I know other problems exist, but sport is something different, and I don’t mix politics and sport. The ideal is that they can travel anywhere, so we’re going to fight in other parts of America too—that’s the idea.”

His connection with Cuba isn’t new; as he told us, he first came as a child with his mother, and this was his fifth time on the island, but certainly not his last.

In fact, next year at least two more events of this kind are expected, though one of them might be in Havana rather than the Matanzas resort.

Following the most recent event, four more boxers from the island signed with AGON Sports, so there is ample material to continue this exchange, in which Volkmann acknowledged he has felt very comfortable.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque / CubaSí Translation Staff