The Cuban boxing style is one of the most successful styles in amateur boxing.
While many fans haven’t seen this style on a professional stage, the Cuban style is one of the slickest and entertaining styles to watch.
This article will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Cuban boxing style, and also discuss boxing history’s most celebrated Cuban fighters.
What Is The Cuban Boxing Style?
The Cuban boxing style is characterized by southpaw fighters using slick footwork and angles, with defense taking priority.
This style can be traced back to two main figures: Alcides Sagarra Carón and experienced trainer Andrei Chervonenko, sent from the Soviet Union.
Many fighters trace their roots back to the legendary La Finca gym, the center of boxing in Havana.
Cuban boxers’ footwork and movement allow them to move gracefully around the ring, with many boxing fans taking note that Cuban boxing flows like dancing.
Unlike the Mexican boxing style, the Cuban style emphasizes flanking attacks rather than outright aggression.
On offense, they lead with a pawing jab and focus on scoring points as opposed to scoring knockouts.
Like the Soviet boxing style, Cuban boxers disengage and move out of position to avoid getting hit after every punch lands.
When training, there’s less emphasis on the heavy bag, and more emphasis on shadowboxing and sparring.
Strengths of the Cuban Boxing Style
Some strengths of the Cuban Boxing Style include:
- Cuban Boxers Have Superior Footwork And Balance
- Many Cuban Fighters Are Southpaws
Cuban Boxers Have Superior Footwork And Balance
First, Cuban boxers have superior footwork and balance.
With their movement, Cuban boxers are easily able to get a better foot position than their opponent.
This allows them to attack on the move and gain an advantageous angle to counterattack.
Many Cuban Fighters Are Southpaws
Next, many Cuban fighters are southpaws.
This gives them an extra advantage over orthodox fighters and allows them to step on the outside of their opponent’s feet to create angles.
Interestingly, many Cuban fighters are naturally orthodox, but have been trained to fight southpaw.
Weaknesses of the Cuban Boxing Style
On the other hand, some weaknesses of the Cuban Boxing Style include:
- Cuban Boxers Use Too Much Movement
- Cuban Boxers Focus Too Much On Counter Punching
Cuban Boxers Use Too Much Movement
One weakness of the Cuban boxing style is too much movement.
Cuban fighters will struggle against an opponent who cuts off their flow and makes their footwork lose balance with feints and clinches.
This style of constant flow and movement can drain a Cuban boxer’s energy, especially if their opponent cuts off the ring and lands accurate body shots.
Cuban Boxers Focus Too Much On Counter Punching
Another weakness of the Cuban boxing style is that their boxers focus too much on counter punching.
Because of this, they tend to be more passive than their opponent when it comes to initiating attacks.
Cuban fighters may struggle against an opponent who puts constant pressure on them and hides attacks with frequent feinting.
Top Cuban Boxers of All-Time
Some of the greatest Cuban boxers in history are:
- Teófilo Stevenson
- José Nápoles
- Félix Savón
Chances are that you haven’t heard of some of these boxers.
Like the Soviets, boxing came under the guidance and investment of the late Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution.
The government began to recruit the most talented kids from a young age and give them the best training.
As a result, Cuba began to excel in amateur and Olympic boxing, seeing the Olympic Games in Mexico City, Montreal, and Moscow as the greatest stages, rather than Madison Square Garden.
As a result, amateur and Olympic boxers, not professional boxers, are worshipped in Cuba.
According to official Olympic records, Cuba won 37 gold medals, 19 silver medals, and 17 bronze medals for boxing.
Add more to those numbers, considering that Cuba boycotted the 1984 and 1988 events.
Many of these boxers had to choose between defecting to America or remaining loyal to Cuba when Castro became ill.
Teófilo Stevenson
First on our list, Teófilo Stevenson is one of the best boxers in history that you probably haven’t heard of.
He’s considered one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time. According to the Olympics’ official website, Stevenson won 3 consecutive gold medals from 1972 to 1980.
American fight promoters took notice and offered him $5 million to fight Muhammad Ali, but Stevenson turned down the offer.
He was known for his masterful jab and light footwork, which was unusual for a heavyweight at the time.
José Nápoles
Next on our list, José Nápoles was one of the few Cuban professional greats.
He started his professional boxing career before the onset of the Cuban Revolution and chose to take asylum in Mexico to continue it.
From 1969 to 1975, he held multiple world championships in the WBA and the WBC.
Known as “Mantequilla” (“butter” in Spanish), his style was smooth and relaxed.
A masterful Cuban boxer, he flowed with his movement, but he could also sit down and throw powerful combinations.
Félix Savón
Last on our list, Félix Savón is also considered one of the greatest in amateur boxing.
Like Stevenson before him, he won 3 Olympic golds and rejected a lucrative offer to fight Mike Tyson that would’ve launched his professional boxing career into stardom.
He was known for his rapid hand speed and excellent footwork in the heavyweight division, making him one of the greats of Cuban boxing.
Conclusion
The Cuban style continues to be feared and respected in the boxing world today, producing several world boxing champions.
With the ban on Cuban professional boxing lifted, fighters such as Guillermo Rigondeaux and Erislandy Lara continue to represent the Cuban style.
It’s difficult to say if Cuban boxing is the best in the world since this style of boxing hasn’t been tested long enough in the professional arena.
Some say that the Cuban style is best suited for the 3-round amateurs, while others think that with the proper training, Cuban style can hold its own in 12-round pro fights.
The boxing world today hopes that Cuban boxing continues to branch out and produce pound-for-pound contenders.
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