Page 8 Portland Observer. November 17. 1982
World Champion Pablo Romero lands a punch to the face of Sherman Griffen.
Romero won a unanimous decision in the light heavyweight class.
Teofilo Stevenson, three time Olympic gold medalist, throws a left to the head of
U.S.A.'s Tyrell Biggs.
Cuba, Stevenson still Number 1
by Gloria Fisher
Teofilo Stevenson answered any
questions about his boxing a bility
when he knocked out Tyrell Biggs
Saturday, leading the Cuban team
to an 8-4 win over the U.S. A.
Stevenson, 31, won the Olympic
gold in 1972, 1976 and 1980 and
holds various world and World Cup
titles. Following a neck injury in a
1981 automobile accident that kept
him out o f the ring for 18 months,
Stevenson returned in 1982 to win
the Cuban national championship
and the Central American and Car-
ribbean Games, but lost on points to
Italian Francesco Damiani in the
world championships. Saturday’ s
win over Biggs removes any doubt
that the reserved, shy 6 '5 ' super-
heavyweight still has that power in
his famous right.
Stevenson stalked Biggs during
the firs t round, neither fighter
throwing many punches. Stevenson
came out punching in the second
round and soon put Biggs on the
floor. Following the mandatory 8-
count Biggs made a valient attempt
but a powerful right to the head put
him out. Biggs later said he had
been surprised by Stevenson’s body
punches (“ I thought my ribs were
crunched” ) which softened him up
for the fall.
Pandemonium broke loose as the
Cuban coaches and boxers leaped
in to the ring to embrace T e o filo .
There is confidence among Cuban
sportsmen in T e o filo ’ s a b ility but
the two years away from training
and his age are o f concern. But win
or lose, T e o filo is a national hero
and as the team physician told him
at the hotel p rio r to the matches,
“ most im portant are your beliefs,
your conviction.”
•
The question frequently asked in
the U.S. is why Stevenson did not
turn pro—why there are not profes­
sional sports in Cuba. Cuba has
been strong in sports for many years
and p rio r to the 1959 re vo lutio n
produced many fine professional
athletes, especially in boxing and in
baseball—first in the Negro Leagues
and later in the majors.
After the revolution professional
sports were discontinued. Angel
Herrera—current world champion
light-heavyweight and tw o-tim e
Olympic gold medalist, explained,
“ I box to be the best—for my coun­
try, for the people, for the Revolu-
tion. In professional sports the play­
ers are exploited—they are used to
make money not for sport. We fight
fo r our country—to be the best in
the w orld. I want to win as many
medals, as many honors, as I
can—for Cuba.”
ANGEL HERRERA
Roberto Salamanca, announcer
fo r Radio Rebelde, said sport vic­
tory is very im portant to Cuba—it
helps offset the bad publicity perpe­
tuated against Cuba. “ Eighty per­
cent o f the world news is controlled
by the United States,” he said, “ and
the honors that our teams bring
Cuba are very im p o rta nt to our
people. It is especially satisfying to
win over the United States—a large
and rich country.” The U.S. has has
always been a leader in sports, Sala­
manca said, and has a difficult time
adjusting to a second place status.
“ The Soviet Union will win the 1984
Olympics, and we w ill see how the
American people respond.”
W hy is Cuba—a poor nation
with 10 million citizens—the world’s
leader in boxing, dom inating the
1980 Olympics and the 1982 world
championships? How does Cuba
produce world championship teams
or close runner-ups in baseball, vol­
leyball, water polo, wrestling,
weight lifting? Sport is a right guar­
anteed to the Cuban people in the
Constitution, all sporting events are
free, and sport is an integral part of
the education system. Sport and rec­
reation are important parts o f every­
day life and are a part o f Cuba’s na­
tional health program.
“ Most people are involved in
some kind o f s p o rt,” explained
Eddie M a rtin , com m entator fo r
Cuba’ s largest television station.
“ They run or play handball. Every­
one plays baseball from the little
children to the old people—it is our
national sport. Softball is becoming
very popular, to o .” Emphasis is
placed on health—with exercises at
the work places and a strong anti­
smoking campaign.
Organized sports begin in the
schools at 11 years o f age—with the
21 Olympic sports and chess (con­
sidered a sport in Cuba), Martin ex­
plained. Swimming begins in pre­
school. Through provincial and na­
tional tournaments youngsters with
talent and interest are identified for
training in specific sports.
Angel Herrera, 26, began boxing
at age 12. He also played baseball,
wrestled and participated in judo.
The youngest boy in a family o f 11,
he fallow ed an older brother iftto
boxing. After excelling in his home
town o f Guantanamo, Angel parti­
cipated in the national tournament
for school boys. A scholarship was
offered and he entered the special
sport school in Havana where he
studied to become a physical educa­
tion teacher and is currently study­
ing fo r his m aster’ s degree. His
plan, on retirement, is to teach phy­
sical education and sports. In the
meantime, he looks forward to the
1984 Olympics.
Following his father’ s example,
Angel has five children. He would
like his sons to be boxers, “ but only
if they are champions.”
Omar Santiesteban also began
boxing at age 12 in his home town.
Las Tunas. Santiesteban played
baseball and basketball and a l­
though he is small he was selected
for training for the national basket­
ball team. “ I ’ m short but I ’ m a
good shot,” he laughed. “ It always
went through the hoop.”
Omar is a Lieutenant in the army,
goes to school, and if he does not re­
main in the military after his current
6 year enlistment he will teach physi­
cal education. Santiesteban’s titles
include the 1981 W orld Cup, 1981
North American championship, and
1977 Spartakaids (socialist nations’
m ilitary competition) and 1980 and
1981 Cuban national cham pion­
ships. He missed the 1980 Olympics
due to a nose injury.
Omar spends about 3 hours a day
tra in in g , which leaves time for
school, his jo b and his fa m ily —a
son and a daughter. W hile most o f
Cuban boxers are studying to teach
physical education others study law,
medicine, and trades such as electri­
city.
OMAR SANTIESTEBAN
Cuba’ s boxing team o f 42 mem­
bers is chosen through competition
on the national level. Any boxer
can be replaced by a better competi­
tor. An Olympic medal or a world
cham pionship does not assure a
place on the first team. This Octo­
ber, 24 men went to Mexico for high
altitude training; 18 of them came to
the U.S. Final selections fo r two
bouts were not made u ntil shortly
before weigh-in time Friday.
One advantage the Cubans have
over the USA team is consistent
coaching, training, and access to the
latest knowledge and techniques of
sport medicine.
•
A ll o f Cuba waited eagerly for the
fight—they had won all seven o f the
previous Cuba-U.S.A. matches, the
latest by 11-1—and the matches
were broadcast live “ because the
people want to hear,” M artin said.
The news media is state supported
and carries no advertising, and there
is cooperation among the various
media.
Salamanca said he would broad­
cast the entire program live but at
3:00 p.m., when Cuba’s satellite was
in position to pick up the pictures,
would tell his audience to watch tel-
Teofilo Stevenson lingers ,o sign autographs, telk with the crowd
and kiss the girls.
The w in n ers..
Light Flyweight/106 lbs.
Rafael Sainz, 17, Cuban National
Champion, W orld Champion, de­
feated Israel Acosta, 27, o f Wiscon­
sin (4-1 decision).
Flyweight/1 ¡2 lbs.
Jessie Benavides, 19, 1981 and
1982 national Golden Gloves cham­
pion won 4-1 decision over Omar
Santiesteban, 24, 1981 W orld Cup
cham pion, 1981 N orth American
Champion, Santiesteban was penal­
ized 2 points for low blows (4-1 deci­
sion).
Bantam weight/119 lbs.
Ernesto DeLis, 3rd place in 1981
W orld Cups, 2nd in North A m er­
ican championships, decisioned
Robert Shannon, 20, o f Edmonds,
Wa. Shannon was 1st in world Jr.
Olympics in 1979(4-1 decision).
f
evision. ABC transmitted the televi­
ping the fight with a TKO.
sion broadcast to the satellite (ABC
In spite o f all the posturing and
will broadcast (or U.S. audiences on
flag waving by the U.S. athletes,
November 27).
their behavior in the ring was exem­
A ll radio and TV stations carried
plary. Most excited was Vincent Pa-
the fight except one radio station
zienza, who leaped into the arms of
which broadcasts news only. “ The
opponent Hererra when his victory
mission ol the media is to serve the
was announced.
people.” M a rtin said. “ I f some­
thing o f national importance hap­
pens all the stations pick up some­
The crowd was another story.
bod y’ s broadcast —we share. We
They booed the Cuban boxers when
broadcast wha, the people want. It
they entered the ring (except Steven­
is no, im portant if Fidel wants to
son), booed the Cuban referees,
talk to the people. What is im port­
and, after disagreeing with some de­
ant is i f they want to listen. He
cisions, threw objects into the ring
would never, for example, decide to
The two Cuban referees had to be
talk to the people during the box­
escorted to the dressing room by po­
ing matches— he would w a it.”
lice and even then were the object of
Another difference between Cuban
attempted physical attack.
and U.S. media is that the Cuban
media docs no, intrude in to the
The difference o f opinion ap­
news event. One Cuban referee
peared to be a lack of understanding
made points with the crowd when he o f amateur rules which require a
ordered an ABC cameraman to get fighter to stand up, rather than
down from beside the ring so the
crouch, and allow the referee to give
people could see.
a boxer 2 seconds to recover from a
•
dazing blow to prevent injury. Al
The pleasure o f the crowd was
though the rules were applied even­
ly, the Cuban referees were more
short-lived, however, Anti-Cuban
animosity was evident almost from
protective o f both boxers, and as a
the beginning. U.S.A. middleweight
result received the crowd’s wrath.
Michael Grogan had said in a Reno
Some fans thought the U.S. was
newspaper interview: “ I t ’ s almost
robbed of two decisions: the Cuban
like a war (against Cuba). The only
press thought H errera’ s loss was
difference is we don’ , have A-
“ questionable.” One U.S. o fficial
bombs, rifle s and grenades. We
said this was the worst display o f
have our fists and it ’s one on one."
poor sportsmanship he had ever
U n fo rtu n a te ly fo r M r. Grogan a
seen; the Venezuelan official said he
bomb hi, him with the fis, o f world
fell the officiating had been fair and
champion Bernardo Comas, stop­
correct.
Featherweight/125 lbs.
A d o lfo H o rta , 25, silver med­
alist 1980 O lym pics, 1981 W orld
Cup champion, 1982 world champion
defeated Bernard Gray, 19, 3rd in
1982 world championship, 2nd 1982
U.S Amateur (4-1 decision).
Leightweight/132 lbs.
Pernell W hitaker, 18, 1982 U.S.
Am ateur cham pion, 2nd in 1982
world championships, decisioned
Angelo Herrera, 26, 1976 and 1980
Olympic gold, 1978 and 1982 world
champion, 1981 world cup cham­
pion. This was the second meeting
o f the two, with Herrera defeating
W hitaker in the 1982 world cham­
pionship (4-1 decision).
Light welterweight/139 lbs.
Carlos G arcia, 18, 1982 Cuban
national champion and world cham­
pion, defeated Jerry Page, 20, 1981
Golden Gloves Champion and 2nd
in 1982 U.S. Amateur (4-1).
Welterweight/¡47 lbs.
M ark Breland, 19, 1982 U.S.
A m ateur Cham pion, 1982 world
champion and named outstanding
boxer, won a 3-2 decision over
Candelario Duvergel, 19, 1982 Cu­
ban Junior silver medalist.
Light middleweight/¡56 lbs.
John Jackson, 19, o f Seattle, 2nd
in Felks Stamm In t’ l Tournament,
1981, defeated Jose Luis Hernan­
dez, 19, Cuban 1982 N ational
Cham pion and 2nd in W orld
Championships (4-1 decision).
Middleweight/165 lbs.
Bernardo Comas, 19, 1982 Cuban
N ational Champion and W orld
Cham pion. T K O ’ d Michael G ro ­
gan, 25, 1982 U.S. Amateur cham­
pion, North American Champion.
(TKO).
Light heavyweight/¡78 tbs.
Pablo Romero, 20, 1982 Cuban Na­
tio na l Champion and W orld
Champion defeated Sherman G rif­
fen, 19, 1982, 2nd place in National
Golden Gloves and U.S. Amateur
(unanimous decision).
Heavyweight/201 lbs.
Herm engildo Baez, 23, 1982
Cuban National Champion and 3rd
in 1982 world championships won a
unanimous decision over Elmer
Martin, 26, 1980 U.S. Navy Cham­
pion and 1982 U.S. Amateur Cham­
pion (unanimous decision).
Super heavyweight/201 lbs. +
Teofilo Stevenson, 31, Olympic-
Champion 1972, 1976, 1980; World
Champion 1974, 1978; Pan Am eri­
can Champion 1975, 1979. K O ’ d
Tyrell Biggs, 22, 1982 U.S. Amateur
Champion, 1982 World Champion
(knockout).
Loss angers crowd
by Hersche! Soles
Saturday the 13 ,h o f November
before a sellout crowd, Cuba and
the United States met in an interna­
tio na l boxing meet in Reno, Ne­
vada. The match featured some o f
the best amateur boxers in the world
since Cuba finished firs, in the
W orld Championships w ith the
USA edging Russia for second.
The boxers appeared to b • well
matched with Cuba leading by 5-4
going into the 10,h match. In this
178 lb. match, hard h ittin g ’ 82
W orld Champion Pablo Romero
won over Golden Gloves Champion
Sherman G riffin (M inneapolis,
M in n ., by a 5-0 unanimous deci­
sion.
In the heavyweight match, heavy­
weight Hermengildo Baez (Cuba)
had a definite height and reach ad­
vantage over the stocky Elmer Mar­
tin o f the U.S. Navy. Throughout
the light, Baez, was fighting down to
his shorter opponent. The referee
for the match, Santiago, (Cuba),
made several warnings to Elmer
about the rules Against lighting with
a lowered head. The signal for this
violation is the palm of the hand to
the forehead bu, the very partisan
crowd appeared to misinterpret the
signal as a warning against head
butting and expressed disagreement
and irritation with the referee. The
fight was delayed in the 2nd round
when some fans threw crumpled
cups into the ring. Elmer showed ag
gressiveness and stamina during the
match but the panel o f five interna­
tional judges awarded the fight to
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