Cockfight

In a rural area 30 minutes outside of La Palma, Cuba, an arena stacked inside an old wooden barn, lit only by sunlight breaking through the missing panels and doorways, quickly fills with men. In the middle of the arena, a two-sided cage is lowered to the mulch-covered ground. Two handlers step into the ring, cradling roosters in their arms, they place the birds into each side of the cage. “Twenty! Twenty! I go twenty!,” men begin shouting over each other waving frantically at bookies shuffling larges wads of cash. The yelling intensifies as one of the handlers heads to the side of the ring and pulls a rope. The cage is lifted and the roosters face each other. At first, the birds just stare as if uncertain of what to do but as the shouting of the crowd intensifies to a deafening point, the roosters lunge at each other, lifting themselves into the air and swiping their claws at the opponent's head.

Although cockfighting is a well-known Sunday activity in Cuba, the average Cuban has never seen one. Cockfights are violent and tend to draw hardcore fanatics who enjoy the intensity of the sport and the gambling.

LA PALMA, CUBA - Spectators aggressively yell during a cockfight. At the peak of a match, the volume of yelling becomes so intense it’s deafening.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - At a small cockfighting arena in a rural area 20 minutes outside of La Palma, roosters are weighed in before being handed through a barred window where the birds are held in individual lockers until they are pulled to fight.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - Cockfight owners check the scale as their birds are officially weighed in. Occasionally, arguments ensue between the rooster owners and the fight officials over the recorded weight of the bird. One-tenth of a kilogram can mean the difference of being assigned to a higher weight class and fighting a larger bird.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - An artificial spur is wrapped tightly to the rooster’s leg where the animal’s natural spur had been clipped. Although most roosters do not die during cockfights, this spur has the ability to deal a lethal blow when landed in the neck of its opponent.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - A man waits for the cockfights to begin.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - Between cockfights, a bookie steps into the ring to collect bets. Gambling and cockfighting go hand in hand.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - A cockfight owner and two handlers step into the ring in preparation for a fight.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - A man prepares to make a bet during a cockfight in a rural area outside of La Palma, Cuba.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - Two roosters attack each other in an arena in a rural area of Cuba. Although cockfights are a well-known Sunday activity, they do not attract the average Cuban. Cockfights are violent and tend to draw mainly hard core fan who enjoy the intensity of the sport and the gambling.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - A man celebrates after his rooster wins the fight.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster
LA PALMA, CUBA - A rooster stands over his defeated opponent.
Cuban cockfight Cuba K Joseph Mohatt cuban cockfighting la palma photo by Kevin Mohatt rooster

KEVIN MOHATT PHOTOGRAPHY

Cockfight