Warnings issued about clandestine fights recruiting young people in Cuba for just 20 euros

The Cuban historian Julio César González Pagés warned through his profile on Facebook about the emergence in Cuba of a circuit of underground fights that offers young people 20 euros per match.

Under the slogan "Without Fear of Bleeding," the Combate Libre project seeks participants "willing to fight for money and glory."

According to the announcement, the fights can take place on rooftops, patios, abandoned factories, or streets, with an emphasis on "the show and the level of attraction."

Although rules, contracts, and matchups by weight are announced, the scheme operates outside the law and without medical or sports supervision.

According to González Pagés, the project, which originated in Santiago de Cuba, already includes participants from Havana, Pinar del Río, Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos, Granma, and Las Tunas.

The organizers record the matches and share them on social media to monetize them and attract sponsors, avoiding the presence of an audience to evade detection by the police.

The promoters accept newcomers and fighters with amateur experience, without requiring professional training, he added.

The minimum pay and the underground nature of the fights expose young people to serious injuries and an environment where violence becomes digital merchandise.

For the general coordinator of the Ibero-American and African Network of Masculinities (RIAM), the phenomenon is an extreme reflection of the precariousness and hopelessness experienced by many young men in Cuba, where a lack of opportunities and the rise of violent content on social media normalize physical aggression as a means of escape or support.

The project, which is presented as a "real combat," also serves as a warning about the increasing trivialization of violence and the social vulnerability of a generation that, in the face of crisis, is willing to put themselves on the line for a few coins and a moment of visibility.

Comments on social media amplified the alarm. Many users agreed that the phenomenon reflects a moral and social decline experienced in Cuba, which goes beyond mere underground spectacle.

"Every day we come across new stories, which, in my opinion, are far from encouraging. A society that is transforming into everything we never dreamed of," wrote Patricia Pérez Ramos.

While Bernardo Maturell Martínez questioned the institutional passivity: "Why do the authorities allow these challenges in the style of the Romans? We continue to show an absolute conformity and passivity in the face of social ills never seen before."

Other users like Caridad Miranda Martínez summarized the situation in one phrase: “Crises expose many dark sides.”

Maritza Hernández described these times as “barbaric,” and Lily Lorenzo warned that “conditions are increasingly being created for initiatives like these, or worse, to start gaining traction.”

For Luigi Joe, the phenomenon is not exclusive to Cuba, but a reflection of a global crisis that “now comes with a Cuban version, brought to light amidst an unprecedented crisis.”

“Where have we reached! How rotten is today's society,” lamented Zeida Santisteban, while Marcos Grave de Peralta spoke of “a deep Cuba” that emerges between despair and a lack of horizons.

User Gretel Martínez Castañeda went further: “We are copying the worst of capitalism. How have we reached such degradation? I deeply lament the country that is being left for our grandchildren.”

The comments, more than just simple reactions, reflect the collective bewilderment in the face of a reality where violence is normalized as entertainment and the crisis drives young people to expose their bodies and their future for just 20 euros.

Street violence in Santiago de Cuba has left several alarming episodes in recent weeks as evidence of the increasing insecurity on the island. Citizens claim that violent and criminal incidents have risen without any effective response from the authorities.

They also demand greater control and security, denouncing a growing sense of impunity that jeopardizes the most vulnerable communities in the province.

On Tuesday, neighbors of a boarding house in the city center found the lifeless body of José Luis Rodríguez, known as "Jaca", inside his home on Maceo Street, between Carnicería and Moncada.

A young man identified as Mario Leandro Duharte Cala, 32 years old, passed away on Thursday after being stabbed during a fight that took place last Saturday at a street party on Calle 4 in the Chicharrones neighborhood, in Santiago de Cuba.

A violent robbery was reported on September 1 in the José Martí District, in Santiago de Cuba, resulting in two people injured with knives and a "quite considerable" amount of money stolen.

Weeks earlier, a violent attack against several women took place at the intersection of Trocha and Cristina streets, in the country's second largest city, in front of astonished bystanders.

A spate of stabbings disturbed the city when two violent incidents occurred on the same day, highlighting the increase in insecurity and aggression in public spaces.

Days later, a violent brawl broke out outside a mobile phone repair shop, where several individuals confronted each other with punches in broad daylight.

The case of the alleged “cannibal killer” from Santiago de Cuba continues to shock the public, amidst suspicions that José Luis Fernández Torres, 60 years old, is not only responsible for the brutal murder of Ángel Luis Mercantety Quiñones, but also for the disappearance of other residents from the Abel Santamaría neighborhood.

In June, a 70-year-old farmer was tortured and murdered in Quintoque to steal his belongings, in a crime that shocked eastern Cuba.

Months earlier, a student was seriously injured at the Vocational School of Exact Sciences “Antonio Maceo”, following a violent incident within the educational institution.

Moreover, residents reported that armed gangs of minors are committing assaults and robberies in the streets of Santiago without any effective solutions provided by the authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions about Underground Fights in Cuba and Their Social Impact