Santo Domingo 2026
The countdown is on. As preparations accelerate for the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, construction crews are busy across the capital. Venues are being built and reconstructed to welcome athletes from across the region. However, amidst this progress, a shadow hangs over one of the country’s most successful sports. There is growing alarm regarding the neglect of boxing facilities.
A Champion Sport on the Ropes
Despite boxing’s history of bringing international glory to the Dominican Republic, its infrastructure is crumbling. The concern among the sport’s leadership is palpable. While other venues are modernized for Santo Domingo 2026, boxing faces marginalization and uncertainty.
Currently, the iconic Carlos “Teo” Cruz Boxing Coliseum has not been touched. Furthermore, there seem to be no immediate plans for its rehabilitation. The situation is equally unclear for the boxing gym at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. This lack of action is baffling to supporters.
Federation President Sounds the Alarm
Rubén García, president of the Dominican Boxing Federation, voiced his frustration clearly. He noted that among traditional sports in the games’ program, boxing stands alone in its neglect.
“Boxing is the only sport where facilities are neither being built nor repaired,” García explained. “This includes the Teo Cruz and the Olympic Center gym.”
He emphasized that this treatment is unjust. It marginalizes a discipline that has consistently delivered medals at major events, including the Pan American Games and the Olympics.
Why This Neglect Matters
The numbers speak for themselves. Boxing delivered the Dominican Republic’s first Olympic medal and its first Pan American gold. In the country’s first Central American and Caribbean Games appearance in 1946, boxers won three out of four gold medals.
Most recently, during the Paris 2024 Olympics, boxing contributed two of the three medals won by the nation. Given this track record, the current state of affairs is disheartening.
As Santo Domingo 2026 approaches, the clock is ticking. The federation and athletes hope that the government will address these critical repairs soon. The fighters are ready, but they need a place to train.
