Cuban boxers can go pro under deal with Mexican promoter
FILE - Gold medal winner, Cuba's Andy Cruz, celebrates during the men's lightweight 63-kg boxing medal ceremony at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally in Cuba again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

FILE - Gold medal winner, Cuba's Andy Cruz, celebrates during the men's lightweight 63-kg boxing medal ceremony at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally in Cuba again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

Apr. 05, 2022 02:57 PM EDT
FILE - Cuba's Julio Cesar La Cruz reacts after defeating Muslim Gadzhimagomedov of the Russian Olympic Committee, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 6, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally in Cuba again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

FILE - Cuba's Julio Cesar La Cruz reacts after defeating Muslim Gadzhimagomedov of the Russian Olympic Committee, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 6, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally in Cuba again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

Apr. 05, 2022 02:56 PM EDT
FILE - Boxers Idamerys Moreno, left, and Legnis Cala train during a photo session on Havana's sea wall in Cuba, Jan. 30, 2017. Cuban boxers will be allowed to fight professionally for the first time since the 1960s under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)

FILE - Boxers Idamerys Moreno, left, and Legnis Cala train during a photo session on Havana's sea wall in Cuba, Jan. 30, 2017. Cuban boxers will be allowed to fight professionally for the first time since the 1960s under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)

Apr. 05, 2022 02:10 PM EDT
FILE - Cuba's Roniel Iglesias flexes his muscles after his men's welterweight 69-kg boxing match with Delante Johnson, from the United States, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally in Cuba again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (Buda Mendes/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Cuba's Roniel Iglesias flexes his muscles after his men's welterweight 69-kg boxing match with Delante Johnson, from the United States, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally in Cuba again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (Buda Mendes/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Apr. 05, 2022 02:57 PM EDT
FILE - Silver medalist Britain's Benjamin Whittaker, left, gold medalist Cuba's Arlen Lopez, second from left, bronze medalist Imam Khataev of Russian Olympic Committee, bronze, second from right, and bronze medalist Azerbaijan's Loren Alfonso stand after the singing of Cuba's national anthem during ceremony for the light heavy weight 75-81kg boxing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 4, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally in Cuba again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

FILE - Silver medalist Britain's Benjamin Whittaker, left, gold medalist Cuba's Arlen Lopez, second from left, bronze medalist Imam Khataev of Russian Olympic Committee, bronze, second from right, and bronze medalist Azerbaijan's Loren Alfonso stand after the singing of Cuba's national anthem during ceremony for the light heavy weight 75-81kg boxing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 4, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally in Cuba again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

Apr. 05, 2022 02:57 PM EDT
FILE - Cuban boxer Osain Gonzalez puts on his headgear before competing in a boxing tournament at the Rafael Trejos boxing gym in Old Havana, Cuba, March 16, 2013. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes, File)

FILE - Cuban boxer Osain Gonzalez puts on his headgear before competing in a boxing tournament at the Rafael Trejos boxing gym in Old Havana, Cuba, March 16, 2013. Cuba banned professional boxing shortly after the 1959 revolution, but boxers will be allowed to fight professionally again for the first time under a deal with a Mexican promoter, officials announced March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes, File)

Apr. 05, 2022 02:29 PM EDT