Cuban boxers out

HAVANA – Cuban leader Fidel Castro has pulled the country’s boxing team out of the world championship in Chicago in October to prevent boxers defecting.

The Cuban boxing federation confirmed yesterday that in line with the wishes of Castro none of their team will be attending the event. The October 18-November 3 tournament is a qualifying event for the 2008 Olympics.In 2004, Cuba won the majority of its Olympic gold medals in the sport.But Castro insisted earlier this month that Cuba would not sacrifice its honour for Olympic gold medals.And the boxing federation said in a statement: “We will not expose the Cuban boxing team once again to the abuses and provocations that, in this case, will take place in Chicago, a north American territory, an ideal place to give free reign to dealers and traffickers with the collusion of US authorities.”Last month, two Cuban boxers abandoned their team at an event in Brazil.Guillermo Rigondeaux, a double Olympic champion, and Erislandy Lara, world welterweight champion, were deported from Brazil to Cuba after their apparent attempt to defect during the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro.Nampa-AFPThe October 18-November 3 tournament is a qualifying event for the 2008 Olympics.In 2004, Cuba won the majority of its Olympic gold medals in the sport.But Castro insisted earlier this month that Cuba would not sacrifice its honour for Olympic gold medals.And the boxing federation said in a statement: “We will not expose the Cuban boxing team once again to the abuses and provocations that, in this case, will take place in Chicago, a north American territory, an ideal place to give free reign to dealers and traffickers with the collusion of US authorities.”Last month, two Cuban boxers abandoned their team at an event in Brazil.Guillermo Rigondeaux, a double Olympic champion, and Erislandy Lara, world welterweight champion, were deported from Brazil to Cuba after their apparent attempt to defect during the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro.Nampa-AFP