August 27 marks the International Boxing Day

The International Boxing Day was celebrated first only a few years ago which remembers the start of the historic World Boxing Championships. That milestone event was held in Havana, Cuba in 1974 to increase the international relationship and the experience of the boxers.

The International Boxing Day celebrates on August 27 every year with boxing galas, social activities, shows, various sport programs and national events throughout the whole globe to strengthen the popularity of boxing.

Altogether 274 boxers from 45 nations competed for the eleven titles at the 1974 World Boxing Championships in the Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva Havana. The first world event supported the preparations for the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games as well.

Cuba topped the medal standings in the first World Boxing Championships with their five gold medals 49 years ago. Cuba’s heavyweight legend, the three-time Olympic Champion Teofilo Stevenson was one of the winners in the 1974 World Boxing Championships.

The Soviet Union, the United States, Yugoslavia, Puerto Rico and Uganda won the further titles in Havana and seventeen countries achieved at least one medal in 1974. The Uzbek star Rufat Riskiyev, who represented the Soviet Union, and the Croatian boxing icon, Mate Parlov were among the gold medallist in 1974.