why do the cubans stay amatuer?

it should also be noted that the top cuban amatuers are in fact not amatuers but proffesional boxers who get paid by the cuban state/get free accomadation and do not have to do a job other than boxing.

now it is not payment on a western scale , but by cuban terms it is very good , and there standard of living in cuban terms is high middle class.

same can be said of british boxers now.

they get good money to stay amatuer.

 

Please do not compare british situation wih cubans. British gets help and incentive. But they have choices. Cubans have to do what the government says. You go against what the government tell you to do and you end up either in jail or in the bottom of the ocean. The trip to Florida is very dangerous and many die before reaching the land. But there are very strong reasons for them to risk their lifes.

 

great holiday destination though! bloody hell they hate Americans .... a lot

 

and that is why cuba did not send a team to the world champs in US as they were afraid alot of they boxers would defect.

knowing that boxers from cuba could not turn pro due to the goverment was not something i was tought it was just something you pick up on at an early age or it could have been on some program i once watched but either way i am from UK and i knew

 

I have to correct you my friend, USSR had players on European pro teams. Arvidas Sobounus (Sorry about the spelling) was like Shaq at the time and was drafted in 85 by the NBA ALONG WITH A FEW OTHERS. I was living in Germany when that game came on a he was killing David Robinson

 

With Castro out of power hopefully they can turn pro shortly.

 

They are not allowed to turn pro. Communist country! The government is scared they will all defect the minute they land in another country for a fight

 

A professional boxer if very successful can generate much money hence, generating a base of adulating fans. That person will then be a constant threat to the people in power in a communist gov't.. It is only lately that China was able to capitalize on sports power/wealth with the example of Yao Ming in basketball.

 

The reason you have a crazy dictator (Fidel) who wants control of everything China is a comunist and allows their boxer to turn pro and make some money.You remember Teofilo Stevenson the great Cuban Heavy is having a hard time now couple years ago a reporter from Miami Herald tried to interview him and you know what his price was a lunch.

 

this from a man whose only knowledge of scotland is through ****ing braveheart.