Boxing Cuba

Boxing is the top popular sport in Cuba and part of its cultural identity. The martial arts, often represented as warlike in form, acquire here an unexpected elegance, speed and technical perfection. This publication reflects the Cuban love of sport, from youth work in the back yards of Havana to the preparations for the Olympic Games. At the same time it tells the story of this fascinating world sport. Cubas pride in its boxers and its sports tradition remains unbroken. Boxing schools and national boxing idols happily granted the photographer Katharina Alt access to their training facilities and private homes in order to record life in and around the sport and the contests. The photos provide an impressive record of the arduous preparations for a fight and continue until the boxers are saved by the gong in the final round.The text by author and journalist Michael Schleicher is divided into twelve rounds and shows how the sport has changed since Antiquity. Motifs, aesthetics and boxing language occur today in art and culture and are thus an omnipresent witness to the fact that Boxing is life itself, according to Joyce Carol Oates. Included boxers: Arlen Lopez Cardona, 75 kg, Gold medal at the World Boxing Championships 2015 in Doha Erislandy Savón Cotilla, 91 kg, Gold medal at the World Boxing Championships 2015 in Doha Lázaro Jorge Álvarez Estrada, 60 kg, Gold medal at the World Boxing Championships 2011 in Baku, 2013 in Almaty and 2015 in Doha, bronze medal at the Olympic Games 2012 in London and 2016 in RioLenier Pero Justiz, 91 kgLuis Oliva Gener, 64 kgJulio César La Cruz, 81 kg, Gold medal at the World Boxing Championships 2011 in Baku, 2013 in Almaty and 2015 in Doha, gold medal at the Olympic Games 2016 in RioYasnier Toledo López, 64 kg, Silver medal at the World Boxing Championships 2015 in Doha, bronze medal at the Olympic Games 2012 in London Armando Martínez, 60 kgJoahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez, 49 kg, Gold medal at the World Boxing Championships 2015 in Doha Emmanuel Reyes Pla, 81 kgRobeisy Ramirez, 56 kg, Gold medal at the Olympic Games 2012 in London and 2016 in RioRoniel Iglesias Sotolongo, 69 kg, Gold medal at the World Boxing Championships 2009 in Milan, bronze medal at the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing and gold medal at the Olympic Games 2012 in LondonYosbani Veitía, 52 kg, Silver medal at the World Boxing Championships 2015 in Doha