The boxer – a former Cuban silver medallist, he said. As he obligingly struck a pose, he seemed to be transported back in time, reliving his glory days.

The gym in old Havana was bare except for a central boxing ring and seats with rusty railings; the gloves and protective gear were well worn and the coaches strict. The boys trooped in after school, serious about following the rules and becoming ‘real boxers’.

The more colourful matches, however, happened on the streets of old Havana, the punches vicious, the crowds raucous.