Saidel Horta was crowned continental champion in the 60 kilograms category and became the only Cuban boxer to win the title during the final day of the Continental Boxing Championship held in Puebla, Mexico, this Saturday.
The fighter from Cienfuegos, world runner-up in Tashkent 2023, defeated the Dominican Ezequiel Medina in a final that did not reach completion: the match was interrupted in the first round due to injuries sustained by both boxers, and all five judges awarded the victory to the Cuban by unanimous decision of 5-0, considering that he had dominated the action up to that point.
With that victory, Horta concluded his participation in the tournament held at the Miguel Hidalgo coliseum with a perfect record of four wins and no losses.
Cuba entered the final day with three representatives in the finals, but only Horta reached the top step of the podium.
In the 70-kilogram category, Yusnier Sorsano faced off again against the Dominican Ricardo Cuello, who had already defeated him in the final of the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026. The match ended dramatically: all five judges scored it 28-28 at the close of the third round before issuing a final 5-0 decision in favor of the Dominican, leaving Sorsano with the silver medal.
Nelson Williams also took silver in the 90 kilograms category after losing by unanimous decision 5-0 to the Brazilian Isaías Filho, a rival who combined mobility and technical skills to neutralize the Cuban's offensive actions throughout the entire bout.
In addition to the three medals in the finals, Cuba added two bronze medals: Luis Enrique Vinent in the men's 65 kg category and Dayira Mesa in the women's 70 kg category, who had been the first Cuban to secure a spot for Lima 2027 at the start of the tournament.
In total, the Cuban delegation concluded the championship with five medals —one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes— and, equally important, five spots for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima: Horta, Sorsano, Williams, Vinent, and Mesa.
The result comes at a time of recovery for Cuban boxing, which in Santo Domingo 2026 did not win any titles in the men's category for the first time in the history of the Central American and Caribbean Games, and the delegation finished third in the overall medal count of that event.
The Puebla tournament was the first qualifier for Lima 2027, with a second opportunity scheduled for the first quarter of next year, keeping the door open for more Cuban boxers to secure spots in the Pan American Games.
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