The gold medalists at the 2021 World Boxing Championship, in Belgrade, Julio César La Cruz, Yoenlis Hernández Martínez and Andy Cruz Gómez and the bronze medalists, Osvel Caballero and Herich Ruiz Córdoba, still have not received the cash prize offered by the Association International Boxing (Aiba).
La Cruz, Hernández and Cruz, with the medal obtained, earned $100,000, while for Caballero and Ruiz, the prize is $25,000. The reason for the delay, according to the president of the organization, Umar Kremlev, is due to the economic embargo. “The problem is complicated. There are many banks that cannot make the transfer to Cuba,” published the magazine Play Off Magazine.
Visiting Havana, the manager did not specify whether the money is granted directly to the boxer or is done, as usual, through the Cuban regime. He limited himself to saying that the monetary part serves the athletes so that they “invest in their future and families.”
“This money I will share with my family. I think I will manage to spend it wisely and find a good purpose.” Cruz said after beating the Turkish Kerem Özmen in the 63.5 kilogram category.
“The problem is complicated. There are many banks that cannot make the transfer to Cuba,” published the magazine ‘Play-Off Magazine’
A year after that episode in Serbia, Andy Cruz’s situation changed. He was expelled in July from Cuban sports and the Domadores after being exhibited for his escape attempt and being disowned for being undisciplined. The champion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is in the Dominican Republic where he is preparing for his professional debut.
Similar is the case of Herich Ruiz, who escaped last March “after the weigh-in for his fight” against the American Arjan Iseni. The fight was part of the Continental Championship cartel, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The bronze medalist at the 2021 World Boxing Championships in Serbia is owed $25,000 by Aiba for the bronze achieved in Belgrade.
Umar Kremlev did not elaborate on the $ 125,000 of these two fighters nor did he deny the possibility that they receive the prize. He trusted that the solution will be given before the end of this year. “Although I know that for Cubans the payment is not the most important thing, but the fact of getting into the ring and representing the country with its flag and anthem. That is the dream of every boxer.”
The next World Boxing Championships will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from May 1-14, 2023. For this event, the gold medalist will be awarded $200,000, the silver medalist $100,000, and the bronze medalist $50,000.
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