With a solid performance in the ring, the Cuban Enmanuel Reyes achieved his first victory in Olympic boxing at Paris 2024 this Sunday and placed himself on the brink of securing a bronze medal for the Spanish delegation.
"The Prophet," as many call him, won by a split vote (4-1) against the Chinese Han Xuezhen in the 92 kilograms category and advanced to the quarterfinals without too many setbacks in search of the medal that eluded him in Tokyo 2020.
Although the Asian was quite motivated from an offensive standpoint, the one born in Havana displayed excellent evasiveness, quick movements to counterattack, and accurate strikes to his opponent's upper body.
Xuezhen, silver medalist at the 2022 Asian Games, encountered a steadfast Enmanuel who took control of the match and did not let himself be overwhelmed, reported the digital page As about the fight.
In this way, the Spanish representative took a giant step in his aspiration to climb the awards podium in a division that began with the presence of three fighters born in the largest of the Antilles.
However, the draw meant that Julio César la Cruz, double Olympic champion, would face Loren Berto Alfonso (Azerbaijan) in the debut of both in the competition under the five rings.
La Cruz, flag bearer of the island's delegation and five-time world champion, could not maintain his slight favoritism over Alfonso, who won bronze in Tokyo in a different division and is another standout student of the Cuban School of Boxing.
Just on the day of his 29th birthday, the Azerbaijani dashed the golden hopes of his compatriot with a close verdict of 3-2 in a contest that could have gone either way.
After the fight, he dedicated words of praise to his opponent: This is part of the sport. He has been my idol since I was little, he told the press in statements published on the social network Facebook.
Thus, Reyes and Alfonso continue on the path to the weight final, although they will first have to overcome a couple of obstacles. For now, the favorite of most (La Cruz) said goodbye early in his fourth Olympic appearance.
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