After an excellent performance that brought him to the brink of a bronze medal, the Cuban Erislandy Álvarez said on Monday that he feels ready to reach Olympic glory in boxing at Paris 2024.
Álvarez, world subtitle holder in the 63.5-kilogram division, won by unanimous decision (5-0) against the Algerian Jurgurtha Ait, who even received a standing eight count in the second round, when the Caribbean fighter set a higher pace in the fight.
"I think I am in good shape and I can be an Olympic champion, but we come here to enjoy ourselves and have fun in the ring," he said to the accredited press at the major multi-sport event.
"The key was to follow the guidance of my coaches, with whom I prepared the strategy to neutralize his greater height," the digital portal JIT reported in its fight chronicle.
The Cuban will return to action next Thursday against the Thai Bunjong Sinsiri. The winner will secure a spot on the podium and continue on the path to the final in a weight category that has a clear favorite: the local Sofiane Oumiha.
Just then, the French fighter, three-time world champion and silver medalist at Rio de Janeiro 2016, easily dispatched the Jordanian Obada Alkasbeh (5-0). The good news is that the European and the Caribbean fighter are on separate paths and could only meet in the gold medal match.
After Julio César la Cruz's setback in his first appearance, Cuban boxing is counting on the skills of two-time Olympic champion Arlen López (80) and young Alejandro Claro (51) this Tuesday.
López will debut against the Turkish Kaan Aykutsun, while in the same lineup, Claro will face Brazilian Michael Trindade, a boxer who achieved second place a few months ago at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
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