The first 20 medallists are revealed at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships
The first stage of the quarter-finals was held on the third competition of the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships in Vargas, Venezuela, where the winners of the Flyweight (52 kg), Lightweight (60 kg), Welterweight (69 kg), Light Heavyweight (81 kg) and Super Heavyweight (+91 kg) matches all became guaranteed medallists in the event.
In addition to reaching the semi-finals, all of the victorious boxers also earned a quota place for the AIBA World Boxing Championships Doha 2015.
Bout of the day
Cuba’s two-time AIBA World Champion Julio Cesar La Cruz and Ecuador’s promising boxer Carlos Andres Mina met each other for the third time this year on Day 3.
The 23-year-old Ecuadorian boxer won their first bout in Season V of the World Series of Boxing in Havana, while La Cruz triumphed in their rematch at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
The Cuban team captain took his 2015 record to 2-1 against Mina in Venezuela, as he used his footwork and tactical prowess to defeat his rival in an excellent bout.
Mina performed at a much higher level than in their Toronto contest, but La Cruz is in exceptional form at the moment, and earned a quota for the AIBA World Boxing Championships Doha 2015 after his unanimous decision victory.
La Cruz will now meet Colombia’s Juan Carlos Carrillo in the Light Heavyweight semi-final.
Team of the day
Besides Julio Cesar La Cruz’s top performance in the bout of the day, all of the other four Cuban boxers on show advanced to the semi-finals on Day 3, and bagged a quota for Doha 2015 in the process.
AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Yosbany Veitia opened Cuba’s winning day with a narrow split decision victory over Dominican Republic’s Central American & Caribbean Games gold medalist Leonel De Los Santos at Flyweight.
Two-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez also defeated an opponent from the Dominican Republic, when he eliminated 19-year-old Lightweight Elvis Rodriguez.
Cuba’s London 2012 Olympic Games winner Roniel Iglesias had to work hard to achieve his victory over Guatemala’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Lester Martinez at Welterweight, while two-time Pan American Games winner Leinier Pero used his speed to outperform Brazilian Super Heavyweight veteran Rafael Duarte Lima.
Surprise of the day
Venezuela’s Yoel Finol won the bronze medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, but the host nation’s teenage sensation had to box Argentina’s AIBA Pro Boxing star Fernando Martinez for a guaranteed medal at Flyweight.
The 19-year-old Venezuelan was quicker than Martinez, and managed to consistently evade the strength and power of his experienced opponent.
Finol’s technique was exemplary throughout the bout, and his victory was greeted with tremendous support from the fans in Vargas.
The Round-Up
Costa Rica’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist David Alejandro Jimenez did not give any chances to Ecuador’s Carlos Manuel Chusin in their Flyweight bout.
Brazil’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Robson Donato Conceicao secured the lone medal for his country after the first part of the quarter-finals, when he eliminated Mexico’s Toronto 2015 Pan American Games silver medallist Lindolfo Delgado at Lightweight.
Venezuela’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist and Toronto 2015 Pan American Games winner Gabriel Maestre controlled his quarter-final contest from the first round, and advanced to the semi-final of the Welterweight class.
His compatriot and Toronto 2015 Pan American Games silver medallist Albert Ramirez also enjoyed success against USA’s Steve Nelson at Light Heavyweight.
Canada’s London 2012 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Simon Kean continued his good form by defeating Colombia’s Isaia Parra in a very entertaining contest.
Fact of the day
Twenty boxers secured guaranteed medals in the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships, from the following nations:
- Cuba, Venezuela: 5 medals
- Argentina, Colombia, Mexico: 2 medals
- Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico: 1 medal
Quote of the day
“This was more than a victory for me today, as I won a medal while I also achieved a quota for the AIBA World Boxing Championships which was my goal before the event. It was a victory which opened doors for me, and I am proud of my performance. I am not so tired after the bout, so I am ready for the next bout to fight for my lovely country once again,” said Venezuela’s Panamerican Games Qualifier winner Luis Cabrera. who eliminated Nicaragua’s Nelson Diaz.
Tomorrow’s program
The second part of the quarter-finals will be held on the fourth competition day in Vargas, where the winners of the Light Flyweight (49 kg), Bantamweight (56 kg), Light Welterweight (64 kg), Middleweight (75 kg) and Heavyweight (91 kg) matches will become guaranteed medallists.
