The two-time Olympic champions boxing Julio César La Cruz and Roniel Iglesias reached their twelfth national titles in the 2022 Playa Girón Tournament, which ended this Saturday in the city of Camagüey.
In this way, both fighters were placed second in the historical list, ahead of the legendary Teófilo Stevenson and only surpassed by the 13 championships won by the three-time Olympic champion Félix Savón.
La Cruz (CMG) won his third gold in the 91 kg division —he won the rest in the 81 kg—, winning this time with a unanimous 5-0 victory over Freddy Pérez (SCU), in a quiet fight , precise the website Hit.
Roniel (PRI), meanwhile, deserved the title in the 69 kg division, his eighth at this weight, to which he adds three in the 64 kg and one in the 51 kg, achieved in his first foray into these fights with such only 16 years old.
The site points out that Iglesias showed good physique and an accurate defense as a complement to his rival’s attacks, to prevail with a comfortable 5-0 advantage in the judges’ vote.
La Cruz and Roniel: 12 belts in Cuban boxing!
They were crowned at the closing of the Playa Girón national tournament, also signed by Yosbany Veitía’s scepter number 10 and Jorge Moirán’s reverse. #Cuba #CubanBoxing #Boxing #CubanSport #InderCuba https://t.co/DPWbPQVTEY pic.twitter.com/5QVJJUkyhL— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) June 25, 2022
Meanwhile, the also experienced Yosbany Veitía reached his tenth Playa Girón crown, in a revenge fight for the previous championship against Damián Arce (CMG) from Camagüey. This was one of the closest fights of the final day of the contest, decided with a score of 3-2 in favor of the Sancti Spiritus.
Another of the best exponents of the national team, Arlen López from Guantanamo, won his eighth scepter, now in the 81 kg, with a wide victory against Brayan León from Pinar del Río, while the also consecrated 60 kg and three-time world champion Lázaro Álvarez won his He fights with a unanimous verdict from the judges and thus reached his sixth gold medal in these tournaments.
The rest of the titles went to Billy Rodríguez (HAB), in the 48 kg; Osvel Caballero (MAY), in the 57; Erislandy Álvarez (CFG), in the 63; Yoenlis Hernández (CMG), in the 75; Nelson Williams (CMG); in the 86; and Carlos Castillo (HAB), in more than 91 kg.
By provinces, Camaguey captured the most points and gold medals (31 points/3 golds-1 silver-2 bronzes), followed by Guantánamo (25/1-2-2) and Sancti Spíritus (25/1-1-4). In this way, the host territory achieved its tenth consecutive collective title, and was confirmed as the main power of the sport of fists in Cuba today.
