Top Cuban boxers defect in Brazil.

[Darthmage]

Two more cuban prospects we will soon be talking about besides Solis and Gamboa.


By Emilio Rappold

Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - Cuba's star boxer Guillermo Rigondeaux "disappeared" while he was in Rio de Janeiro to take part in the Pan American Games.

The 2000 and 2004 bantamweight Olympic champion apparently defected along with fellow boxer Erislandy Lara over the weekend, media in Rio reported Monday.

"We gave them permission to go out last night and they did not return," Maximiliano Gonzalez Diaz, president of Cuba's National Boxing Commission, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa in Rio. "It is very sad."

It has almost been ruled out that Rigondeaux and Lara may have been the victims of a crime in the violent Brazilian city.

Instead, it seems likely that they have increased to four the number of Cuban athletes who have defected during the Pan American Games, which began July 13 and are set to end Sunday.

Handball player Rafael Da Costa Capote and gymnastics trainer Lazaro Lamelas had earlier abandoned the communist island's delegation. Capote and Lamelas said last week that they plan to request asylum in Brazil.

However, Rigondeaux's defection is a particularly strong blow for Cuban sport. Boxing is one of the country's showcase sports. And Rigondeaux, 26, was the biggest star of the Cuban delegation in Rio. He won 142 consecutive fights from 1999-2003, and was seen as the last great boxer of his generation.

In December 2006, three other big stars - Yan Barthelemy, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis - defected during a tournament in Caracas. They now box professionally in Germany.

With Rigondeaux's "disappearance," Cuba no longer has a reigning Olympic champion living on the island.

This situation is not that surprising, since many athletes take advantage of tournaments abroad to defect from Cuba. Only last month two footballers did so during the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.

The defections of Cuban athletes only rarely appear in the island's state media, which criticize the "theft of talent" and opportunities for Third World stars to compete under the flags of developed countries.

"Rigondeaux (54 kilogrammes) and Lara (69 kilogrammes) did not show up to be weighed," the weekly Trabajadores reported Monday.

The 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, set a record, when 13 Cubans - including a journalist - defected. The daily Winnipeg Sun joked that its readers should guess how many Cubans would have defected by the end of the games. The joked about "prize": a trip to Havana.

[brooklyn1550]

Brave kids! I hope to see good things out of them in the future.

[rr94]

Rigondeaux is AMAZING! I've been waiting years hoping there was a way he'd turn pro, and it seemed too late and impossible, and it may now happen! Hopefully in the coming weeks we'll get a new scoop!

[Bad_Intentions]

never heard of him.

good luck to him anyways.

[Beebs]

Good for them, get the fuck out of there.

And great for Brazil, which already has a Cuban boxing relationship, could lead to an increase in good young Brazilian boxers. I know some Brazilian MMA teams already train with Cuban boxers and the Cuban team sometimes.

[sues2nd]

Great for them and the sport. Cuba has long had possible ATGs on that island, if not for Castro's ban on pro sports.

[Warfist]

I have heard many good things about Rigondeaux in the past few years. If all the things I have heard about him are true and if he has the stamina for 12 AND a solid chin as well as the deisre to keep training hard once he has a taste of freedom, he will likely be a p4p fighter in the future. Time will tell.

[WhataRock]

Rigondeaux is damn good, one of the best cubans amatuers ever.
Not young though, should be interesting to see how far he makes it in the pros.

I love there are more Cubans coming into pro boxing.

[micky]

Rigondeaux is sensational cannot wait to see where he surfaces and with whom, you would think it has been all sorted out before hand.

With Brazils connections with Germany wonder if he will end up there with Gamboa and Solis, would be the smart place at this time and they could form a small community there for themselves amongst friends.

Anyone who has not seen this guy you are in for a treat, if he has stamina and a chin its a gimmee for a proper world title within two years as a pro if they want.

Micky

[WhataRock]

His record is something stupidly good like 245 wins in 250 fights or something around that.

[jaycuban]

Thats the best p4p fighter in the world right

[Odo]

Good for them, get the fuck out of there.

And great for Brazil, which already has a Cuban boxing relationship, could lead to an increase in good young Brazilian boxers. I know some Brazilian MMA teams already train with Cuban boxers and the Cuban team sometimes.

Dont be that naive,mate!

Neither Rigondeaux nor his team mate will be staying in Brazil.The will probably join their old mates ' pro box team in Germany.

[Spitfire7]

Why would they ever defect from Castro's little Commie paradise?!?:huh

:D

[Pimp C]

Good news can't wait too see this guy in the ring soon.

[jaycuban]

Good news can't wait too see this guy in the ring soon.

tell me about it, ive been a fan forever im him and solis lol

[Hawks28]

no fuckin way, Rigondeaux defected??? Great news if true.

[JETSKI]

:lol:
Just heard that Castro is pissed that these guys ran away all because of a "fist full of American dollars".

[Metal Man]

Rigondeux for many years was probably the p4p best amateur in the world although i think the Russian middle Matvey Korobov stole that mantle from him in recent years.Nonetheless his defection benefits the pro game and if you think Mayweathers fast wait till you catch a glimse of this guy.

[ripcity]

I googled Rigondeux and found some videos of one of his fights. I realize it was an amature fight, but I have to say I was very impresed with what I saw

[jaycuban]

I googled Rigondeux and found some videos of one of his fights. I realize it was an amature fight, but I have to say I was very impresed with what I saw

for some reason the only fight you are going to find is one vs Ramiros Rojas qualifying for the panamerican games and that was one of his worse fights ive seen, guess he wasent really excited about it.

[Rock0052]

Rigondeaux's got future champ written all over him...any info on the other guy who defected?

[Orishaman]

Rigondioux is the real thing......he will need to get with a good trainer thou to help him with the ptransition to the pros....so he doesn;t go the same route as Diosbelys Hurtado...now Gillermo is no youngster...he is pushing 28 years old...

[ripcity]

for some reason the only fight you are going to find is one vs Ramiros Rojas qualifying for the panamerican games and that was one of his worse fights ive seen, guess he wasent really excited about it.

If that was one of his worse fights. I can't wait to see him at his best.

[Tom_Tocca]

The defectors might sign a contract in Germany...

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[jaycuban]

The defectors might sign a contract in Germany...

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just as i expected, this will be awsome for boxing fans, and awsome news for me since ive dreamed (and believe me) for years about this happening.

[Orishaman]

just as i expected, this will be awsome for boxing fans, and awsome news for me since ive dreamed (and believe me) for years about this happening.

Guillermo is 28 an for his weight class that's old....we will see, he needs to get a good trainer to help him trancition to pro boxing

[WestSideBoxer]

Rigondioux is the real thing......he will need to get with a good trainer thou to help him with the ptransition to the pros....so he doesn;t go the same route as Diosbelys Hurtado...now Gillermo is no youngster...he is pushing 28 years old...

Rigondeaux is 26, he will be 27 in October

With his skills he could have 9 years of great boxing in the Pro's

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[Orishaman]

He's 26, he will be 27 in October

He could have 8 years of great boxing in the Pro's

He will be 27 in Spet by the time he is ready to fight professional he will be 28 n matter how good heis...in fact he is not the top Cuba boxer, but Yuviel Napoles...don;t et me wrong Guillermo is good but not the top man....

[Vantage_West]

Good for them, get the fuck out of there.

.dude cuba gets a very bad press while under a dictatorship but we arnt like that they are good poeple with a republic to do all the work fidel does jackshiznit.

whats wrong with it they are poor but if everyones poor on the same level then theres no one to complain:roll:

[WestSideBoxer]

The defectors might sign a contract in Germany...

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Wow!!

Arena Promotions now will have 4 Olympic champs and 1 World Amateur Champ in Lara.

At this rate Ahmet Oner will promote the entire Cuban team.

Great news!

Odlanier Solis (27) :yikes

Erislandy Lara (24)

Yuriorkis Gamboa (25) :yikes:yikes:yikes

Guillermo Rigondeaux (26) :yikes

Yan Barthelemy (27)

------

Yoan Pablo Hernandez (22) - Cruiserweight is also fighting in Germany

Carlos Duarte (24) - Cruiserweight fighting in Mexico and his trainer is Nacho Beristain


Please God! more Cubans in the Pros! :thumbsup


And lets not forget


Joel Casamayor (36) and 2 or more years could HOLD the WBC LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

and

Juan Carlos Gomez (34) good age for a Heavyweight

[WestSideBoxer]

He will be 27 in Spet by the time he is ready to fight professional he will be 28 n matter how good heis...in fact he is not the top Cuba boxer, but Yuviel Napoles...don;t et me wrong Guillermo is good but not the top man....
Well Sept 30 :good

And i find interesting that you think he will turn pro when he will be 28.

In September 30 of 2008 :lol: ......

I don't think so, maybe in November or December of this year he could turn Pro


-----

And now we have a Cuban - Puerto Rican rivalry in Pro Boxing, that's good.

[jaycuban]

He will be 27 in Spet by the time he is ready to fight professional he will be 28 n matter how good heis...in fact he is not the top Cuba boxer, but Yuviel Napoles...don;t et me wrong Guillermo is good but not the top man....

no way, after the retirement of Mario Kindelan, Rigondeaux is the best boxer in cuba.

[Bad_Intentions]

Good for them, get the fuck out of there.:rofl u mad?

[jaycuban]

:rofl u mad?


what do you mean ? that they shouldnt ?

[jaycuban]

Traitors


YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE IDOT... TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL

[Bad_Intentions]

Traitorscagate en tu madre comepinga.

[WestSideBoxer]

NEWS FLASH
Arena inks defected Cuban stars!
Arena Box-Promotion, which made big news by signing the three Cuban Olympic gold medalists who defected last December, has done it again. Two-time Olympic bantamweight gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux and world amatuer welterweight champion Erislandy Lara, who both defected from the Cuban team last week in Rio de Janeiro have signed five year deals with the Hamburg-based promotional company. Within the next four weeks, the two boxers will arrive in Hamburg.

"I can't reveal where the athletes are currently, for understandable reasons," said Arena boss Ahmet Öner. "The fact is, however, is that it takes time to arrange the visas, as well as the residence and work permits. Of course we will present the young fighters to the public upon their arrival in Hamburg. I'm already looking forward already to that day."
Thursday, July 26 2007

[WestSideBoxer]

Arena: Rigondeaux and Lara sign 5-year-contracts
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Hamburg, July 26th, 2007 - All speculations come to an end: Two-times Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and world amateur welterweight champion Erislandy Lara who had left their national team during the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro signed 5-year-contracts with Hamburg based arena Box-Promotion.

arena-CEO Ahmet Öner proudly stated that “the most talented boxers in the world fight for arena. Our stable looks into a golden future.”

Record-breaking Rigondeaux won 243 of his 247 amateur fights including titles at the Olympic Games 2000 and 2004 as well as World Championships 2001 and 2005. Like his fellow countrymen Odlanier Solis who had already signed with arena early this year, the 26-year old Cuban has been “hunted” by international promoters for years. Öner: “Rigondeaux is an exceptional talent. I am sure that nobody in the world can beat him..”


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Reigning world amateur welterweight champion Lara is only 24 years of age and will probably compete in the middleweight division. Öner: “As all of our Cuban boxers he is a jewel who will be the man to beat in his weight class.”

Within the next four weeks Öner’s new stars are expected to arrive in Germany. Öner: “I can’t reveal where they are right now for understandable reasons but I am already looking forward to the day when they finally arrive in Hamburg. Of course, we will present them to the public as soon as they get here.”

photos: J.A. Treptow: Pictures of Guillermo Rigondeaux at Halle Chemie-Pokal 2005

[Orishaman]

At this point for what I seen, Yuviel Napoles is the class of the Cuban team...Guillermo is good , don;t get me wrong, but at 27 or 28 when he starts his pro career, he better be well trained, or we will have another Diobelys as I been mentioning for a while

[WestSideBoxer]

At this point for what I seen, Yuviel Napoles is the class of the Cuban team...Guillermo is good , don;t get me wrong, but at 27 or 28 when he starts his pro career, he better be well trained, or we will have another Diobelys as I been mentioning for a while
He's 26 and probaly he will have his first fight in November of this year at 27, in 1 year and a half, having 10 or 11 Pro fights , he could fight for a World Title at the age 28 or 29.

And all the cubans think that he's the best p4p amateur cuban boxer since Savon........

And you think Yuviel Napoles is :think

[WestSideBoxer]

he better be well trained, or we will have another Diobelys as I been mentioning for a while
And how can you compare him with Diobelys? :patsch:patsch:patsch:patsch:patsch:patsch

[Bad_Intentions]

Yoan Pablo Hernandez (22) - Cruiserweight is also fighting in Germany is there any footage of him?

[Orishaman]

And how can you compare him with Diobelys? :patsch:patsch:patsch:patsch:patsch:patsch
Diosbely defected and took no time in getting in the rings with pro's he won but it was clear that once he got in the ring with someone of he uipper echelon he was going to be exposed.......now I will say this Diosbelys had incredible talent, and if Guillermo can do as well as he did , whcih yet to be seen, he should have a title shot by 2009 or so...but again once Sweet Pea KO Diosbely out of the ring showing what a top Pro would do when facing advsersity, he never was the same....he fought chumps, had loses to the top fighter after Sweet Pea that he faced all by KO's with the exception of Bailey...beat the lesser competition...ands he was 22 years when he started his pro career, so he was far younger...with great heaight attributes for his weight...he had the talent but it was not develpoed to his full potential