Will the Sports City bear the name of Teófilo Stevenson?

February 13, 2020

The Sports City (CD) was the place where Teófilo Stevenson won his first world title and where he celebrated his last fight in Cuba, on the occasion of the Friendship Games, held parallel to the Olympic event in Los Ángeles 1984. Seven years after his physical disappearance, many wonder why his name has not been placed on the capital coliseum that he shook so much throughout his sports career.

A tangle of bureaucratic obstacles, lack of dialogue and disinterest have meant that even today the boxing family and fans in general ask questions that seem elementary, but that do not have a simple answer.

Elio Menéndez, National Prize for Journalism José Martí, a month after the death of the Giant of Delicias (June 11, 2012), was one of the first to propose the idea of renaming the venue on Vía Blanca and Boyeros: "I am convinced that such a happy suggestion will be warmly welcomed, not only by the great boxing family, but even by those who, without being sports followers, know of the greatness of this man," he wrote in the newspaper Juventud Rebelde.

As precise as Teo's straight right punches are the comments from his former teammates. "It's time for the coliseum to have Stevenson's name, that is essential. I don't know what the obstacles have been. For boxing and for the people he has all the honors to put his name on the coliseum. If anyone doubts it, let them convene a meeting with all the sports greats to analyze it," says double Olympic champion Ángel Herrera.

Another holder of the five rings, Armandito Martínez, becomes emotional when talking about the subject. "In meetings at the CD I have been one of those who have raised my hand, because this has been raised for years. He is the mirror, the greatest athlete of the Revolution. The CD is the most important venue for boxing, like Madison Square Garden in the United States."

At the CD a child cries in a corner of the bleachers. He cannot compete because his sneakers broke, and the volleyball game starts in a few minutes. Stevenson sees him, inquires about the boy and asks what size shoe he wears. "Go to the car and bring me the flip-flops," he shouts to one of his companions and gives his sneakers to the child.

Gelmis Stevenson, a tall mulatto woman, came across this story while giving a bottle to the mother of that child. "The woman stared at me and when she recognized me, she told me about it through tears."

For Teo's firstborn, it would be a source of pride to have her father's name placed on the CD. Many people ask her about the subject and ask her for explanations for the delay. She participated in 2016 in the first approach by Inder with the family to begin the procedures.

"That year, Tomás Herrera, president of the National Commission for Athletes Care, called me and Fraymaris Arias Meléndez, my father's widow, to a meeting with the legal department of the entity. In that meeting they presented to us the possibility of putting the name of Téofilo Stevenson on the CD as an initiative of Inder, for which they needed the response of direct family members.

"We said we agreed, and they requested a letter with the consent of the heirs. Fraymaris wrote it, I signed it and then comes the situation. My brother David did not want to sign it. She reprinted it, and he didn't sign it either."

Arias Meléndez was married to the three-time Olympic champion for 18 years. She is a lawyer for the Cuban Institute of Music, and lives alone with her son David Stevenson since Teo's death. Speaking directly, she stated that before that meeting, Inder had never approached them to talk about that subject or any other. She agrees with putting his name, but it is not a priority for the family, and she clarifies her son's attitude.

"David was in a delicate medical situation at that time and I could not pressure him about it. He was affected by his father's death. After communicating my son's refusal to Tomás Herrera, the approach ended. They never spoke with him or me, nor did they ask for explanations until the Trabajadores newspaper began its investigation, then they called again to talk about the matter."

Ramiro Domínguez, legal director of Inder, and Herrera himself argued that due to the son's refusal (one of the heirs) the entity cannot do anything to initiate the procedures to place Stevenson's name on the CD, despite the interest they have, as a result of the fans' request.

They also stated that the widow began a process of registering the name of Teófilo Stevenson as a trademark with the International Law Firm, and from that moment they had not revisited the matter for fear of a family lawsuit.

Regarding what the Inder directors stated, María Amparo Santana Calderío, Master's in Law and lawyer for the International Law Firm, commented on the details of this type of process, which is uncommon in Cuba. "The name Teófilo Stevenson has been requested as a trademark since September 2016. It is in the process of substantive examination by the Cuban Office of Industrial Property, which grants or does not grant the trademark if it complies with trademark law requirements.

"It does not mean that the right is born from when it is granted, but from the date of filing. The application is presented by the three heirs. The name becomes a protectable asset when they grant the trademark.

"If they are going to negotiate or authorize the name for a place, it goes through another authorization that has nothing to do with trademark registration or industrial property. There can be conflict when you don't sit down with the trademark holder," she argued.

Within that, according to the law, the use of the trademark can be authorized for free or for a fee, with different variants that could range from money to requesting a box to enjoy a show, for the family to practice there, or others.

"If you ask me why the name on the CD has been delayed, I would say that there is a lack of more dialogue and more willingness to sit both parties down and discuss what is best, regardless of the rights granted. This is not a linear process and the three heirs have to agree."

If for Teófilo the love of the people was worth more than all the money in the world, then the will to pay him tribute should be worth more than all the misunderstandings between family and institution. It seems that we would need the power of his hook to knock down barriers and clear up once and for all this mess.

Third round: don't throw in the towel

Professor Alcides Sagarra has lost strength in his voice, but when he speaks of Pirolo, his mind has the same momentum as when he gave orders from one of the corners of the ring, because "there are people who don't need you to ask them for things, but who deserve recognition, and Teo was the Cuban flag."

"We boxers are waiting for Stevenson's name to be given to the CD. There are several obstacles and bureaucracy, but everyone knows Teo's revolutionary and patriotic level, so it shouldn't take so much analysis. The García Lorca theater was named after Alicia Alonso at one point, and there was no problem. The process is stalled right now. All of us fighters would like to sign, many are outraged by the lack of decision," said Genovevo Griñan, head of the Athletes Commission for this sport.

Based on straight punches, charisma, talent and results, humility, sweat of hands and feet, Pirolo built himself a monument as lasting as it is intangible. He was a figure sculpted in the image of the people who cheered him so much. With humility displayed throughout his life, an honest tribute is imposed and the obstacles he so criticized and avoided must be eliminated. All the recognition in the world would not be enough to illustrate the memory of someone so exalted.

*After this report was completed, it became known that Inder authorities met again with Teófilo Stevenson's heirs to restart the procedures for the name of the Sports City, and David Stevenson, the Olympic champion's younger son, again refused the request.