In a close fight from start to finish, the Cuban Arlen López lost this Sunday to the Ukrainian Oleksandr Khyzhniak in the semifinal round and bid farewell in Paris 2024 to the possibility of becoming the fourth boxer capable of winning three gold medals in the Olympic Games.
On the ring located in the Paris North Arena, López, king of Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020, lost his unbeaten record in Olympic events against a boxer who, incidentally, ended up being the runner-up in the Japanese capital, although in the 75 kilograms category.
Now, in the 80-kilogram category, both competitors had a great match, but Khyzhniak came away with the judges' cards after a close split decision (2-3) of 28-29, 30-27, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.
In this way, the athlete from Guantánamo, who does not seem to be heading to Los Angeles 2028, was unable to match the feat achieved by the Hungarian Laszlo Papp (1948, 1952, 1956) and his compatriots Teófilo Stevenson (1972, 1976, 1980) and Félix Savón (1992, 1996, 2000). Nevertheless, a bronze medal will be added to his magnificent career.
The boxing from the largest of the Antilles arrived in France with a total of five fighters, but in earlier rounds, the star Julio César la Cruz (92), Saidel Horta (57), and Alejandro Claro (51) were eliminated.
The once undisputed queen in these Fistiana art contests barely qualified a contender for the final: Erislandy Álvarez, who will contest the title against the local favorite Sofiane Oumiha.
Álvarez showcased a devastating offense today to defeat the Georgian Lasha Guruli in the 63.5 kilograms category.
The world runner-up from Tashkent 2023 unleashed flurries of punches to leave no room for doubt and won by unanimous decision 5-0 (30-26, 30-27, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27) against a Guruli who was never able to counter his opponent's actions.
Since Beijing 2008, Cuba has not left without boxing crowns at the Olympic Games. The last time it won only two medals was in Mexico 1968. It is worth noting that it was absent in Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988.
Meanwhile, the Cuban naturalized by Azerbaijan, Loren Berto Alfonso, defeated his compatriot Enmanuel Reyes, who competes for Spain, leaving him with a bronze medal and advancing to the battle for Olympic glory.
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