Professional Boxing Returns to Cuba
Cuba’s return to professional boxing unfolded in stages. Cuban fighters first competed in pro bouts in Mexico in May 2022 after the Cuban Boxing Federation approved their participation; the first officially sanctioned professional card on the island since 1961 followed in Varadero on April 11, 2025.
The return began abroad
For decades, Cuba restricted professional boxing while its national program focused on amateur competition. In April 2022, authorities approved professional participation through an agreement with promoter Golden Ring. Six Cuban boxers then competed in Aguascalientes, Mexico, on May 20. The World Boxing Council reported that the team returned to professional competition after more than 60 years, with five stoppage wins and one decision victory.
First professional card on Cuban soil
That 2022 event took place in Mexico, not Cuba. The first sanctioned professional fight card on the island since 1961 was held at the Meliá Internacional Hotel in Varadero on April 11, 2025. The World Boxing Association’s report described the event as a milestone for Cuban boxing. Olympic champion Julio César La Cruz headlined the card and won by third-round TKO over Dilan Prasovic.
The change created a route for some Cuban boxers to compete professionally under agreements with overseas promoters, while the country’s celebrated amateur program continued. It did not mean that every elite amateur immediately turned professional or that the long-standing economic and travel challenges facing Cuban athletes disappeared.
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Tags: Boxing
