Havana, Cuba - Cuba, Brazil and Ecuador are the only teams among the 28 confirmed for the 1st AIBA Americas Olympic Qualification Tournament in the Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago from March 12-18, to be sending the full compliment of 11 boxers.

Mr. Jorge Guzmán, Vice-President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and President of the AIBA Americas Confederation, commented that 161 athletes have registered for the event, including nine each from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. 

Other teams participating include the Dominican Republic (eight boxers), Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago (seven), USA (six) and Costa Rica, Dominica and Guatemala (five). 

According to the latest entries and depending on the official weigh-in prior to the tournament, 20 boxers will contest the 64 kg class, 19 in the 60, 17 in the 69 and 75, 16 in the 91, 13 in the 81 and 57, 12 in the 51, 10 in the 48 and nine in the 54kg division. 

Fourteen boxers from the Americas qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games at the AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007. Another 23 vacancies will be on offer in the Jean Pierre complex in the Port of Spain with two qualifying spots per weight class apart from the 64kg and 81kg classes where three spots are on offer and the +91kg class where only the winner will book a spot for Beijing.

The competition will consist of preliminary bouts over the first four days, followed by a rest day on March 16 before the semifinals and finals on the 17th and 18th respectively.

The 2nd AIBA Americas Olympic Qualification Tournament will take place in Guatemala City from April 23-30.