TUESDAY August 17, 2017 : There are few boxing rings more unique than the open air Rafael Trejo gym in old Havana, Cuba. Tucked in between deteriorating apartment buildings, the public ring, named after a Cuban law student who was killed while leading protests against the Machado presidency in the 1930s, is home to some of Cuba's elite athletes, as well as a training ground for young up and coming champions. The plaster on the walls is crumbling and cracks run throughout the concrete floors, and like everything else in Cuba the arena is worn down. Cuba's boxing reputation in the mid 20th century drew well known foreign boxers, such as Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Jess Willard, Joe Lois, Joe Brown, and Sugar Ray Robinson. In 1961 Fidel Castro banned professional boxing in Cuba but over the years the rules changed and Cuban fighters went on to win many gold medals at the Olympic games. In 2013, Cuba broke a five-decade ban on professional boxing. Fighters could now compete with international semi-pro teams again. Throughout its Olympic history, Cuba won 37 gold medals in boxing, second place in the all-time medal table.
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #639: TUESDAY August 17, 2017 : There are few boxing rings more unique than the open air Rafael Trejo gym in old Havana, Cuba. Tucked in between deteriorating apartment buildings, the public ring, named after a Cuban law student who was killed while leading protests against the Machado presidency in the 1930s, is home to some of Cuba's elite athletes, as well as a training ground for young up and coming champions. The plaster on the walls is crumbling and cracks run throughout the concrete floors, and like everything else in Cuba the arena is worn down. Cuba's boxing reputation in the mid 20th century drew well known foreign boxers, such as Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Jess Willard, Joe Lois, Joe Brown, and Sugar Ray Robinson. In 1961 Fidel Castro banned professional boxing in Cuba but over the years the rules changed and Cuban fighters went on to win many gold medals at the Olympic games. In 2013, Cuba broke a five-decade ban on professional boxing. Fighters could now compete with international semi-pro teams again. Throughout its Olympic history, Cuba won 37 gold medals in boxing, second place in the all-time medal table.

Young boxers training while under the careful eye of the coach, at the Rafael Trejo gym in old Havana.
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Many of the fighters at the Rafael Trejo boxing gym in Old Havana dream of a professional boxing career in the USA.
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A young boxer resting on the wood floor during training at the Kid Chocolate gym in old Havana.
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Sweat on the back of a resting Cuban boxer at the Kid Chocolate gym in old Havana.
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October 13, 2015 - Havana, Cuba - Two men play dominoes in the street near the Rafael Trejo gym in old Havana. Dominoes is a widespread board game in Cuba.
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A young Cuban boxer while training at the Kid Chocolate gym in old Havana.
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Fighters prsctive thier boxing skills at the Rafael Trejo boxing gym in Old Havana.
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A fighter during a workout session at the Kid Chocolate gym in old Havana.
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RAY (20), during a training sesson in the Rafael Trejo gym in old Havana.
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Young boxers practice thier fighting skills during training at the Rafael Trejo gym in old Havana.
© Simone Francescangeli via ZUMA Wire

Boxer RAY (20) is taking a break during a training session at the Rafael Trejo gym under the gaze of his trainer.
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Cuban boxer RAY continues training late into the night at the Rafael Trejo gym in old Havana.
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Cuban boxers excercise while lying in the ring during a training in the Rafael Trejo gym in Havana.
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An old American 1950's car passes children playing along the Malecon water front in Havana.
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Boxing coach ALBERTO holds an old black and white image of the namesake of his club 'Kid Chocolate' at the gym in old Havana.
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Moments of concentration and a massage before boxers fight at the Rafael Trejo gym in Havana during an officail regional boxing match.
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Cuban boxers warming up, at the Rafael Trejo gym in Havana prior to a boxing match during a regional boxing event.
© Simone Francescangeli via ZUMA Wire