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Trio of top Cuban boxers plan pro debuts in the US

Cuban boxer Yan Barthelemy talks during a news conference in Miami Beach, Florida, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

They couldn't hide the tears when they spoke of leaving their families. Yet three Olympic champions who defected from Cuba are ready to begin new lives in a new country as professional boxers.

"We have a commitment with the people of Miami and the people of Cuba, it's true -- to become world champions," flyweight Yan Barthelemy said in Spanish during the group's first official news conference since arriving in the US on Friday.

Fans will have to wait a bit longer for their first pro fight because a two-month delay in obtaining US travel visas left the three fighters, "a little out of shape," according to their Miami-based manager, Tony Gonzalez.

six weeks

"They've asked for about six weeks to train, so we're looking at around April 13," he said.

Odlanier Solis, a 26-year-old heavyweight; Yuriorkis Gamboa, a 25-year-old super bantamweight; and 27-year-old Barthelemy left their hotel while training in Venezuela for the Pan American Games and then crossed into Colombia.

There, they hit a snag in obtaining travel visas from the US government until they could prove they were not planning to permanently move to the US but planned to reside in Germany.

three-year contracts

Each fighter has signed a three-year contract for at least US$1 million with Hamburg-based First Artist and Arena with an option for two more years, not counting purses, Gonzalez said. They planned to fly to Germany yesterday before returning to Miami for training.

Solis and Gamboa left behind young children.

"It was a hard decision. It may be months or years before we see them," a tearful Solis said. "But I believe in the end it will be best for them."

All three were favorites in their weight classes to repeat at next year's Beijing Olympics.
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