Eight Cuban teenagers won their respective weight classes at the American Youth Continental Championships, held in Santiago, Dominican Republic, last week, dominating with such force that they left only three categories open to other countries for the gold.
Out of the 70 athletes from 15 nations who competed in the Gran Arena del Cibao Doctor Gobaira Oscar of Santiago, which was the venue of the championships, only Cuba entered with a full 11-member team. Most of the best American boxing nations took part in the event although the United States and Canada missed the tournament because their Youth Nationals were being held at the same time.
Playa Giron silver medalist 18-year-old Yosvany Veitia of Cuba (48kg) had a very difficult contest during the semifinal where he won by just one point, 15:14, over local favorite Juan Gabriel Medina, moving on to an easier final against Mycol Tello of Guatemala.
Dagoberto Aguero of the Dominican Republic, a 17-year-old American junior champion, only claimed a silver medal, surprising fans when 17-year-old Cuban national junior games winner Robeisy Ramirez defeated him in the light flyweight class final.
World junior champion 17-year-old Yunior Valdez of Cuba (57kg) won against local favorite Luis Salazar in the final, while his friend, also 17-year-old world junior champion, Arlen Lopez (60kg) claimed the gold medal in the lightweight class after beating talented Daniel Echeverria of Mexico.
Relatively unknown Hector Boloy of Cuba (69kg) defeated strong Anderson Rojas of Ecuador, while his teammate Irosvany Duvergel (75kg) demonstrated his power in the final against Alan Campa of Mexico: After Duvergel threw some big punches in the first round the referee stopped the contest.
The best Cuban fighters, including national championships bronze medalist Leinier Perot (91kg) and national championships' silver medalist Yuniel Castro (+91kg) both took first place in Santo Domingo. Felix Verdejo of Puerto Rico (54kg), the 17-year-old Cinturon de Oro winner, defeated strong boxers Yunior Ribalta of Cuba and Juan Yonelvi Medina of the Dominican Republic on his way up to the final.
National youth champion 18-year-old Pritchard Colon of Puerto Rico (64kg) defeated Junior World Championships silver medalist Samuel Saul Rodriguez of Cuba in the final claiming Puerto Rico's second gold medal.
Italo Perea of Ecuador, Junior World Championships silver medalist (81kg), was one of the three boxers who managed to beat a Cuban athlete in the championships. Perea was an American Champion among juniors last year, and now he has acquired the gold medal in the youth level as well.
Santo Domingo saw many medal contenders for the AIBA Youth World Championships and after their wonderful performances, it is clear that some of these boxers will surely qualify for the Youth Olympic Games.
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