Two-time Olympic champions Arlen López and Julius Cesar La Cruz came out gracefully this Friday in their premieres at the boxing world championship which is held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where the Cuban representatives have signed a perfect step in 11 presentations.
In addition, the young Sadiel Horta also prevailed, thus achieving his second victory in the contest.
The tightest outcome of the evening was experienced by Arlen in the 80 kilogram division, who did not display his usual rhythm, in accordance with the digital site Hit.
Another perfect day for #Cuba in the World Cup #Boxing
Saidel Horta, Arlen López and Julio César La Cruz maintained the unbeatable status of their army in 11 outings. #boxeocubano #I was goinghttps://t.co/1U2pnI6s43 pic.twitter.com/Swk7y545yj— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) May 5, 2023
The Guantanamo boxer won the initial round, but the Indian Chaudhary Ashish took the initiative in the next one and left the definition of the duel for the final round.
The judges ruled 3-2 in favor of the Cuban, but the outlet specifies that in this universal event all divided decisions must be confirmed with the votes of two other officials, who this time ended up favoring Arlen for a final 5-2.
“The first fights always have special characteristics, and maybe I faced him too confidently, but the positive thing is that I managed to react to take the step that allows us to focus on what is coming,” he told Hit the Cuban fighter, who will have the Hungarian Pal Kovacs as his next opponent.
The transit of La Cruz in his debut in the 92 kilograms was much calmer, which was summed up in a 5-0 victory over the Bosnian Dzemal Bosnjak.
With his peculiar style, the man from Camagüey and captain of the team did not need to work hard to take his first step towards the conquest of his sixth crown in these matches, a route that will continue next Monday against the Australian Kirra Rustro.
Before, the Cuban team had started its journey through the fifth date of the universal event on the right foot thanks to the performance of Saidel Horta in the 57-kilogram division, who added his second success in the tournament with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Anthony from Trinidad Joseph.
Something more complex seems to be his next foray, as his next rival is the Dominican Leonel de los Santos, silver medalist at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima.
The sixth date of the contest will be held this Saturday at the Humo Arena in the Uzbek capital, and will bring the first presentation of Roniel Iglesias from Pinar del Río (67 kg), the other two-time Olympic champion in the Cuban ranks, who will have the Dominican Johnny in the opposite corner Fernandez.
Meanwhile, the three-time world champion Lázaro Álvarez (63.5 kg) will fight against the Brazilian Yuri Dosreis as a rival and the rookie Jorge Cuellar (71 kg) will have his second appearance by crossing gloves with the South African Simnikiwe Bongco.
