BOXER DREAMING

  • Dates
    2017 - 2017
  • Author
  • Topics Portrait, Daily Life, Social Issues

On the beach of Cienfuegos (Cuba), José Alamo, the old glory of Cuban boxing, trains the children of the primary school without having a gym. a sidewalk and a piece of beach cleaned by the trash are enough for him. Love and passion above all.

Together with the sun, the sea, the sand and the rubbish heaps of an old landfill site, Malecón de Cienfuegos (Cuba) is home to a project. This project is carried out by José Alamo Utria, an old Cuban boxing legend who trains and raises young and willing Cubans of all ages with passion, discipline and method every day, allowing them to mature with the knowledge that they can become champions.

Fidel's post-revolution policy guarantees Cubans a social state that allows them to have education, health and sports activities completely free, but there is no infrastructure for practicing sports.

However, this limitation can be overcome by passion and constancy. All it takes is a pavement you can warm up on, a bag attached to a tree you can punch and a rope that can form a ring on the sand, so you can train in order to grow.

Perhaps, one day, one of these young people who are hungry for victory will turn out to be a champion.

© Angelo Ferrillo - Image from the BOXER DREAMING photography project
i

The dream of becoming great champions accompanies these children every day during their workout sessions. They have the high, proud look of people who fight for their dreams every day.

© Angelo Ferrillo - A moment of everyday training that José Alamo gets the children to carry out by going to schools to recruit them directly.
i

A moment of everyday training that José Alamo gets the children to carry out by going to schools to recruit them directly.

© Angelo Ferrillo - Image from the BOXER DREAMING photography project
i

Getting lost in the void by dreaming of a future as a champion. It often happens on the Marecón de Cienfuegos, in José Alamo's open air gym.

© Angelo Ferrillo - Image from the BOXER DREAMING photography project
i

Skipping and taking on a bag with gloves are moments that boxers experience every day during training. Being able to do it outdoors fills the lungs even more.

© Angelo Ferrillo - Image from the BOXER DREAMING photography project
i

Waiting for your turn during training is like waiting for a release, the release you have been expecting for a lifetime, with sweat and passion.

© Angelo Ferrillo - Image from the BOXER DREAMING photography project
i

The ring is the true gym of life. There are those seconds after the gong that make you flick the switch, where it becomes a matter of technique, style and survival.

© Angelo Ferrillo - Boxing training is not just for the body, but also for the mind and spirit. The discipline also provides education for life.
i

Boxing training is not just for the body, but also for the mind and spirit. The discipline also provides education for life.

© Angelo Ferrillo - Image from the BOXER DREAMING photography project
i

The beach at Marecón de Cienfuegos, cleared of waste and made usable for training. Four poles and a rope become the ring of life for these boys, who live with the dream of becoming champions.

© Angelo Ferrillo - A post-training moment at sunset.
i

A post-training moment at sunset.

© Angelo Ferrillo - Image from the BOXER DREAMING photography project
i

José Alamo Utria - Multi-award winning professional boxer. Posing in his defensive position under the Cuban flag, which is high and unattainable, but also protects him and makes him proud.