Wax sculpture of three-time Olympic champion boxer Stevenson to be displayed in Eastern Cuba

BAYAMO, Cuba, Aug 2 (acn) A sculpture of Teofilo Stevenson, best amateur boxer in history and second to win three Olympic titles, will be displayed from August 13th in the only Wax Museum at Cuba, located in this city, capital of the eastern province of Granma.

Ismaris Lopez Comas, director of the institution, told reporters that the figure of the mythical fighter of the super heavyweight division will start the inclusion of sports stars in the unique collection, and its unveiling will be part of the celebrations for Fidel Castro´s 90th birthday.

She said that Stevenson, 198 centimeters tall, is standing with white shorts and shirt, plus gloves and boxing shoes, in combat position.

The authors of the work, she stated, are the members of Barrios family, who live at Granma town of Guisa and they have already made sculptures of 15 personalities represented so far in the museum.

Lopez Comas announced the possibility that on October 20, Day of Cuban Culture, could be unveiled here the figure of Nicolas Guillen, National Poet.

Inaugurated on July 14, 2004, the museum has representations in its collection of the heroes Jose Marti and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, and musicians Sindo Garay, Carlos Puebla, Benny Moré, Bola de Nieve, Compay Segundo, Rita Montaner, Polo Montañez and Juan Formell.

It also displays, always with modeling technique in polychrome wax, the figures of the novelists Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Ernest Hemingway, the typical characters of Bayamo, Rita La Caimana and Paco Pila, and the young Italian Fabio Di Celmo, victim of terrorism against Cuba.

The Wax Museum is located in the pedestrian area of General Calixto Garcia Street, and is one of the cultural institutions of Granma with more visits by Cubans and foreigners.

The authors of the attractive collection of life-size human figures are the teacher Rafael Barrios Madrigal and his sons Rafael and Leander Barrios Milan, all with training linked to the tradition of the town of Guisa.