The Cienfuegos boxer Erislandy Álvarez made his debut this Saturday with a victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics, after defeating John Ume from Papua New Guinea by technical superiority.
In his first fight, Álvarez (24 years old, 63 kg category) started as the favorite and did not disappoint his fans. From the beginning, he displayed great skill and dominance in the ring set up at the iconic Roland-Garros Stadium.
In the first round, the Caribbean fighter controlled the bout, using his agile footwork and a varied repertoire of hooks, jabs, and swings. Three judges awarded him a score of 10-8, while the other two saw him win 10-9.
The second round started with an offensive from Ume, but Álvarez quickly regained control. At 30 seconds into the second round, the first standing eight count was awarded to the Cuban. Shortly after, a precise straight punch from Álvarez knocked down his opponent, resulting in a second count.
Finally, a series of punches - culminated with a powerful right hand that left Ume sitting on the canvas - prompted the referee to stop the fight after a third count. The victory went to Erislandy Álvarez, who was declared the winner by technical knockout.
With a sportsmanlike gesture, Álvarez raised his opponent's arm in a sign of respect before greeting the audience. This victory not only meant the advancement of the world runner-up to the next round, but also the first triumph of Cuban boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Erislandy Álvarez's triumphant debut reinforces expectations for a strong performance from the Cuban team in these Games, marking a promising start for Caribbean boxing in the most important competition in the sport.
This Sunday, the Paris 2024 Olympics will serve as the stage for a curious duel between the Cubans Loren Berto Alfonso Domínguez and double Olympic champion Julio César La Cruz, better known as La Sombra.
At 28 years old, Loren Berto will compete in Paris under the flag of Azerbaijan, a country with which he won the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo 2020, in the light heavyweight category (75-81 kilograms). This Sunday, July 28, at 16:18 (local time), the Cuban boxer naturalized in Azerbaijan will face the Camagüeyano Julio César La Cruz, who is 31 years old and 182 centimeters tall.
Three years younger and seven centimeters taller (189 cm), Loren Berto will have the opportunity to face La Sombra, a fighter who sees the dictator Fidel Castro as an idol and who shouted "Homeland and Life no, Homeland or Death, We Will Overcome!" after defeating his compatriot Enmanuel Reyes Pla, who was competing for Spain in Tokyo 2020.
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