Craig Schneider Photography

Boxer Boys of Havana

Cuba has a long, proud tradition in amatuer boxing. For many young boxers, the journey to Olympic gold begins at Rafael Trejo boxing gym in Havana, one of the oldest facilities in the country. Most boys enter Cuba's sport system at about 10 years old and dream of joining the national team. (See a short documentary about the gym in the video section)

Boxers from the Cuban Olympic team compete regularly at the Rafael Trejo boxing gym in Old Havana, Cuba. As one of the oldest gyms in Cuba, predating Castro’s Revolution, Trejo is also the neighborhood gym for many local kids, who often start their training here as young as 10.
  
A young boxer stands in the ready position at Rafael Trejo boxing gym in Havana, Cuba, as the coach calls out punch combinations to the line.
  
A group of young Cuban boxers train for most of the day at an academy outside Havana, using rudimentary equipment.
     
  
Nardo gives a pep talk to Eduardo, 10, before his first fight at Rafael Trejo, one of the oldest and most famous gyms in Cuba.
   
Eduardo, 10, tries to punch himself out of the corner during a provincial competition at Rafael Trejo gym, a famous boxing training facility in Old Havana.
   
Boxing fans cheer on fighters with screams of "esa," meaning "there you go" in Spanish, at a provincial boxing competition at open-air Rafael Trejo gymnasium in Old Havana.
     
  
Julio, 17, laces up before his fight during a provincial competition at Rafael Trejo boxing gym in Old Havana.
   
Luis Martinez (center), a former Olympic medalist, like many past champions stays involved in the sport as a trainer of Cuba's youth.
   
A boxer takes a break in between sparring rounds with his opponent at Rafael Trejo gym in Old Havana. Older fighters often compete in provincial competitions, with the hope of moving up the ranks to the national team.
     
  
A young boy stands in his boxing ready stance at Rafael Trejo gym in Old Havana. One of the main advantages that Cubans have in the ring other than solid technique and genetics is time. With boxing training beginning at about 10 years old, most who continue up the ranks have several hundred fights to their credit by the time they compete on the international level.
   
A young boxer wipes some sweat from his brow with a tattered glove. Much of the equipment at the Rafael Trejo boxing gym and around Cuba is either degraded or makeshift substitutes, such as tires and sandbags for punching bags.
  
A provincial competition at the Rafael Trejo boxing gym in Havana pits Cuban against Cuban. The national team often scouts for talent at these events, and all of the country’s national and Olympic champions have passed through here either in training or in competition.
     
  
Youth cheer on their teammates at a provincial boxing championship held at Rafael Trejo gymnasium in Old Havana. Cuban boxers are known for their fast footwork, a skill that helps them avoid being hit, with a smoothness that draws from the culture's affinity for dance, particularly salsa.
   
A young fighter waits with his coach prior to his fight at a provincial youth boxing competition held at Rafael Trejo gym in Old Havana, Cuba.
   
Eduardo, 10, sits in his bedroom in an apartment building adjacent to the Rafael Trejo boxing gym where he trains.
     
  
Most of the crowd packs into the shade to avoid the sun during the warmer parts of the day and catch rising boxing talents in competition.
   
The sun sets on boxers at Rafael Trejo gymnasium, one of the oldest gyms in the country. Most of Cuba's boxing champions have passed through here either for competition or for training.