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Cuba experienced a perfect night in Varadero, Matanzas, after winning all seven scheduled bouts in the professional card held at the Meliá Internacional Hotel, where the island's boxers dominated with authority and claimed three titles from the World Boxing Association (WBA).
The protagonists were Erislandy Álvarez, Lázaro Álvarez, and Yusnier Sorsano, who defended or won continental titles against rivals from Mexico and Argentina, according to the site JIT.
The event also showcased the rise of new figures, confirming that, despite the structural stagnation of Cuban sports, the individual quality of several boxers continues to make a difference.
Erislandy Álvarez: gold victory after a dramatic fight
The Olympic champion of Paris 2024, Erislandy Álvarez (63.5 kg), reaffirmed himself as the strongest face of Cuban professional boxing. In the main event, he won by unanimous decision (95-94, 98-91, 96-93) against the Mexican Rogelio Jiménez, a tough opponent who pushed him to his limits.
Álvarez had to overcome a hard blow to the neck that nearly jeopardized the fight, but he managed to recover thanks to his corner and ended up imposing his technical and distant boxing style when the Mexican became frustrated.
With this victory, he secured his sixth consecutive win and retained the Latin American continental title of the AMB.
Lázaro Álvarez remains undefeated
The triple world champion and double Olympic bronze medalist Lázaro Álvarez (61.3 kg) continued his dominance in the professional circuit by defeating the Mexican Raúl Hernández by unanimous decision, extending his unbeaten record in these competitions to 10 victories.
With a tactical plan focused on wearing down his opponent, striking accurately, and avoiding unnecessary risks, Lázaro retained the American continental title from the WBA, reaffirming that he is still prepared for higher-caliber international fights.
Yusnier Sorsano wins the Federlatin title
In just his second professional fight, Yusnier Sorsano (69.8 kg) became the Federlatin champion of the WBA after technically knocking out the Argentine Nicolás Verón in the third round.
Fiery, aggressive, and effective at medium and short range, Sorsano proved to be a talent to watch in this new generation of Cuban boxing.
New figures also shone
The lineup included opportunities for newcomers as well as for individuals starting to establish their names in professional sports: Alejandro Claro (50.8 kg), who delivered a technical recital against the Argentine Mauro Liendro, dominating with precision and varied angles to secure a clear 3-0 victory.
Additionally, Keylor García (79.3 kg) won by technical knockout in the first minute against the Colombian Armando Fontela, a decisive blow that places him on the radar of promising prospects to watch.
At the same time, Nelson Williams (90.7 kg) defeated the Dominican Jankelly Rodríguez by unanimous decision, demonstrating solidity and adaptability to professional boxing.
A good piece of news was the return of Saidel Horta (57.1 kg), who, after months of inactivity, defeated the Dominican Misael Vázquez with speed and tactical control.
International fights completed the evening
The event also featured two bouts between foreign boxers: Malek Semmo (GER) defeated Venezuelan Julio Pérez (72.5 kg) by a score of 3-0. Moroccan Moussa Gholam (58.9 kg) knocked out Argentine Nicolás Nahuel Botelli in two rounds, retaining the AMB continental gold belt.
Summary: Cuba asserts itself and bets on more
The event concluded with seven victories for Cuba, highlighting the individual talent that persists despite the ongoing crisis in sports on the Island. While the structure of Cuban boxing remains constrained by political decisions and a lack of openness, the athletes demonstrate that when competing in professional arenas, they can excel with confidence.
Varadero once again served as the stage for a spectacular demonstration: retained titles, a championship belt conquered, and Cuban boxing that continues to seek recognition on the international level.
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