Boxer Erislandy Álvarez says he has turned down hundreds of thousands of dollars to leave Cuba: "I have achieved it here."

The Olympic boxing champion Erislandy Álvarez, one of the leading figures in current Cuban sports, revealed that he has turned down multiple million-dollar offers to leave Cuba, including a proposal of $100,000 during the 2024 Paris Olympics to not return to the Island.

The boxer's statements were made on the official podcast Pidiendo Pista, where he openly discussed the pressure from professional boxing promoters and his decision to stay in his country.

"I have been offered money many times. During the Olympic Games in Paris, they offered me $100,000 to not return to Cuba and stay in England. I told them no, that there is no amount of money greater than family," he affirmed to the host Lilian Cid.

Álvarez, originally from Cienfuegos and a champion in the 63.5 kg category at Paris 2024, made it clear that his commitment to Cuba has not been without temptations.

He also revealed that he has received similar offers in the United States, but he assured that everything they have promised him outside the country he has achieved from within.

"In the United States, they offered me several thousand. But everything they have offered me, I have obtained here in Cuba. I am with my family and giving them what I have never given before," he added.

Pressures, criticisms, and loyalty

The interview is particularly significant as just four months ago, Álvarez himself made one of the most unusual complaints by a high-level athlete on the Island, publicly criticizing the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER) for the delivery of a defective vehicle as a prize for his Olympic gold medal.

"What they gave me was crap," the boxer wrote on Facebook in March, referring to the used Hyundai Grand i10 he received. As he explained at the time, the car was in such poor condition that he had to invest nearly $5,000 to make it operational. One of the tires even blew out while he was driving, which could have cost him his life.

The post, which was later deleted, was widely replicated by independent media, becoming an example of the latent discontent among high-performance athletes who, despite bringing international glory to the country, face precarious conditions and a lack of institutional recognition.

Nonetheless, in the podcast, Álvarez demonstrated a conciliatory stance.

Despite the experience with INDER, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Cuban sports project and positively assessed the government's policy of controlled integration of boxers into professionalism, which has been promoted in recent years.

"They have opened many doors for us that are fitting. In the past, boxers would leave to help their families, but if you are already supporting your family from here, you don't have to go elsewhere," he stated.

Between loyalty and discontent

The figure of Erislandy Álvarez is complex and courageous.

While she remains within the official structures of sports, she has not hesitated to break the silences that most of her colleagues avoid.

In February of this year, he surprised everyone by publicly showing his support for David Morrell Jr., a Cuban boxer residing in the United States, who faced David Benavidez in Las Vegas.

The gesture was interpreted as a sign of openness by an athlete who does not shy away from criticism or empathizing with those who have taken a different path.

Aware that many friends and colleagues have left Cuba in search of better opportunities, Álvarez said he feels at peace with his decision to stay: "There have been no shortage of proposals to take that step, but my negative response was my banner."

Hero of Paris 2024

Erislandy Álvarez was the only Cuban boxing gold medalist at the recent Olympic Games, and one of the few sources of sporting joy for a delegation that had a generally modest performance. His unanimous decision victory over a Kazakh opponent in the final was celebrated as an achievement that upholds the Cuban boxing tradition.

However, the contrast between Olympic glory and the harsh conditions faced even by the most outstanding athletes continues to spark debate in Cuban society.

Álvarez's experience—caught between national pride and institutional disenchantment—reflects the deep contradictions of sports on the island: talent and sacrifice contend with a system that, while beginning to relax, still offers disproportionate rewards to those who most deserve them.

For now, the fighter from Cienfuegos keeps his guard up: in the ring and in front of the cameras, loyal yet critical, determined to keep fighting from his homeland.

Frequently Asked Questions about Erislandy Álvarez and His Career in Cuba