# University of Sports Awards Honoris Causa to Alcides Sagarra

**Date:** 10/13/2023

In a simple, yet emotional tribute at his own home, Doctor of Sciences Alcides Sagarra Carón received this Thursday the Doctor Honoris Causa degree granted by the University of Sciences of Physical Culture and Sports (UCCFD) Manuel Fajardo.

The rector of the UCCFD Silvano Merced Len presented the distinction that honors Alcides, distinguished not only in the ring where he forged the fists of figures such as Teófilo Stevenson, Félix Savón or Rolando Garbey, but also in his scientific contribution with the publication of articles and texts on contemporary boxing training.

Precisely, boxing specialist Jesús Chuchu Domínguez referred to Alcides the educator and the scientist, highlighting Sagarra's spirit of constant improvement, today 87 years old.

And it is that he had barely a sixth-grade education when in 1964 he began as technical director of the national boxing team. Time and his dedication enabled him to graduate in Physical Culture and later achieve the title of Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, in 1992.

"On behalf of the family, I wish to thank this recognition from the University of Sports, where my father supported the training of young boxers. This honor bestowed upon him, naming him Doctor Honoris Causa, is a beautiful gesture and a recognition of his trajectory, work and commitment to the Revolution and to the ideas of Fidel and Raúl.

"As everyone knows, my father gave himself entirely to the training of generations of champions. With each success and defeat, he always learned and was ready to share his knowledge with Cubans and foreigners," said an emotional Consuelo Sagarra, daughter of Alcides.

Honoris Causa Degree for Doctor Alcides Sagarra. Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.

Rector Merced Len also placed around Alcides' neck the 50th anniversary seal of the UCCFD, arguing that "honoring honors. Therefore, the UCCFD gains prestige with the presentation of this well-deserved recognition. There could not have been a better moment than within the framework of the activities for the 50th anniversary of the center," he stated.

The tribute was led by the first vice president of Inder, Raúl Fornés Valenciaga, and also attended by the president of the Cuban Boxing Federation and national commissioner, Alberto Puig de la Barca, managers of Fajardo and sports legends.

For more than a decade, Alcides Sagarra has not worked as a trainer, but his mind remains in the ring, in Cuba's corner, smiling with Stevenson, making gestures to Armandito, offering one lesson or another that later travels the world.

32 Olympic titles, 63 in world championships and 64 in youth world competitions testify to his greatest work: the Cuban school of boxing. The teacher of many, the philosopher of others and for all, the most optimistic in his predictions.

The following passed through his hands: Teófilo Stevenson, Félix Savón, Ariel Hernández, Maikro Romero, Armando Martínez, Ángel Herrera, Rolando Garbey, Adolfo Horta and Roberto Balado, all legends of Cuban boxing.