Cuban boxers excell in the
Dominican Republic

Roberto Ramírez

THE Cuban team finished with six wins and led the Independence Boxing Cup at the Technological University of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic on February 23.

Local media stated that the evening was well-attended and was marked by the early triumphs of world champion Julio César La Cruz and former juvenile world champion Erislandy Savón.

La Cruz won the intermediate fight against local Juan Carlos Almonte due to abandonment, and super-heavyweight Savón beat Brazilian Johnny Pereira in the same manner.

Olympic champion Roniel Iglesias also won a title by 23-12 against U.S. Rashidi Ellis in the welter division, and flyweight silver medal winner Yosbany Veitía won 14-8 against LLeroy Dávila, also from the United States.

The final wins against the U.S. boxers were in the lightweight division with Iván Oñate, who beat Kenneth Sims 18-15 to regain his 2009 crown, and the final win came from middleweight Yasiel Despaigne, 18-6 in his debut fight against local Rafael Fernández.

"We achieved our target, our team gained more experience and now we have more areas to work on to improve our weaknesses," Rolando Acebal, head coach of the Cuban team, telling Prensa Latina about the bronze medal achieved by welterweight Yasnier Toledo, the other team member.