[3] Despite the banishment of the sport at the time, for the lower classes, boxing constituted a possible ticket out of poverty as well as steady and reliable entertainment.
[4] A very famous and controversial contest took place in Cuba on April 5, 1915, when Jack Johnson, the world heavyweight champion, defended his title against Jess Willard.
In spite of the sport's promise of prosperity, the Cuban boxers who earned a lot of money in the ring almost commonly died impecunious.
In 1960, the professional boxer Benny Paret won the world welterweight title, and headed a strong contingent of professional Cuban boxers who followed up their fifth place at the 1954 games (two medals) with a first place, a position they have held in all subsequent Central American Games.
In the Pan American games, where the competition was stronger, Cuban boxers also performed well, particularly from the late 1960s onward.
The Soviet Union sent experienced boxing coach Andrei Chervonenko to help develop Cuban fighters in order to assist its socialist brethren in their goals.
Along with Cuba's own Alcides Sagarra, Chervonenko helped develop a comprehensive national recruiting and training program based on the Soviet model.
Alcides Sagarra became Cuba's boxing head coach in 1960 and then later passed on his position to Sarbelio Fuentes in 2001.
Sports are considered a high priority in the Cuban education system and it's there a potential athlete can be recognized.
[10] Boxer Teofilo Stevenson who had won three Olympic gold medals in (1972, 1976, and 1980) has made many contributions to Cuba and Cuban boxing.
He is equally known for his sportsmanship, receiving the UNESCO Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play prize in 1989.