 The inexperienced Julius Caesar La Cruz (CMG) was the special hero of the Cuban Boxing Championship at the Playa Giron by realizing a dream by retaining his light heavyweight title, while Ivan Oñate (GTM) displaced Idel Torriente (CHA) for the featherweight title and the light welterweight contest saw Rosniel Iglesias (PRI) beat Richard Poll (SSP).
Five confirmed thrones, two farewells and four inscriptions in the champions roll of honour marked the final day of the 10-day competition which ran from January 16 until January 26 in Holguín - situated in the east of Cuba - and will be remembered with fondness for the official farewell from boxing of the double Olympic winner Mario Kindelán.
La Cruz, 18, confirmed that his performances in the team competition were not due to chance (15 victories without defeat) and his previous success in the national classic, where he beat 2007 champion Yunier Dorticós (HAB).
He again moved very well in the ring, in complete control when under pressure and gave another example of his talent with his 14:9 victory against the experienced Yordanis Despaigne (SCU), a four-time winner in the middleweight class.
Another initiated into the roll of honour was Oñate, who reversed the result of the previous year by beating 9:5 Idel, who although had improved on his semifinal performance, did not reach peak form.
For the first time also, the veteran Andry Laffita (PRI) and the welterweight Carlos Banteur (SCU), who beat Olympic silver medalist Yudel Johnson (SSP), dominated their divisions, while Yankiel Leon (LTU), a former flyweight champion, did the same in the bantamweight class.
The light welterweight Iglesias added to his 2005 flyweight victory with the scalp of Poll (SSP) while the lightweight Yordenis Ugás (SCU), world champion two years ago, enjoyed his fourth ascent to the center of the podium.
The second coronation of the super heavyweight Robert Alfonso, the light flyweight Yampier Hernández, the middleweight Emilio Correa and the heavyweight Osmay Acosta gave CHA a healthy 53 points in the team's race followed by Santiago de Cuba (SCU) on 41 points and Pinar del Río (PRI) on 38.
48: Yampier Hernández (CHA) 14-6 Irán Pérez (GTM)
51: Alexei Collado (CHA) 12-3 Andry Laffita (PRI)
54: Yankiel León (LTU) 17-4 Yurién Fábregas (SCU)
57: Iván Oñate (GTM) 9-5 Idel Torriente (CHA)
60: Yordenis Ugás (SCU) 17-3 Pablo de la Cruz (HOL)
64: Rosniel Iglesias (PRI) 12-9 Richard Poll (SSP)
69: Carlos Banteur (SCU) 15-6 Yudel Johnson (SSP)
75: Emilio Correa (CHA) 19-1 Arisnoide Despaigne (SCU)
81: Julio César la Cruz (CMG) 14-9 Yordanis Despaigne (SCU))
91: Osmay Acosta (CHA) 16-14 Yuniesky González (PRI)
+91: Robert Alfonso (CHA) 12-3 Michel López (PRI).
HONOR ROLL:
Best technique: Emilio Correa (CHA/75)
Best boxer: Carlos Banteur (SCU/69)
Best bout: Iran Pérez (GTM)-Daniel Matellón (SHAH), in the light flyweight semifinal |