Sagarra trained several generations of boxers recognized on a global scale.
Photo: Prensa Latina

Havana, August 18 (RHC) -- Professor Alcides Sagarra, founder of the Cuban boxing school, celebrates 87 years of age this Friday.

Born in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, he was first a professional boxer and then a teacher after graduating as a Physical Education professor.

A severe bronchial asthma prevented him from continuing in the ring and he decided to devote himself to pedagogy.

After the triumph of the Revolution, on January 1, 1959, possibilities opened up for him and in 1962 he became a sports coach.

In 1963 he assumed the direction of the teachers' collective of the national team and from that year until 1964 he received valuable help from two colleagues, one from the then German Democratic Republic, Kurt Rosentil, and the other from the disappeared Soviet Union, Andrey Chernovenko.

Sagarra trained several generations of globally recognized boxers such as Enrique Regüeiferos (63.5 kilograms), Rolando Garbey (71) and Roberto Caminero (60), Cuba's first Pan American champion in 1963.

From left to right: Savón, Sagarra and Stevenson. Photo: Archivo/RHC

Likewise, he raised to stardom stellar men in the boxing firmament with highlights for Teófilo Stevenson (81 and over 91 kilos) and Félix Savón (91).

He graduated with a degree in Physical Culture and Sports, at the current University of Sports 'Manuel (Piti) Fajardo', and has published several articles and texts on contemporary boxing training.

In 1992 he obtained a doctorate in Pedagogical Sciences, a degree of which he holds two scientific degrees.

In his valuable and successful record of services rendered to the sports movement are the achievement of 32 gold medals in Olympic Games, 63 in world events in the senior categories and 64 between youth and cadets.