MIAMI, United States. – The Cuban world boxing champion Yoenlis Hernández Feliciano, who won the only gold medal for the Island at the Tashkent World Championship, left the Cuban delegation during a stopover in Panamaaccording to an official statement issued by the Cuban Boxing Federation (FCB).
In the recent competition in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Hernández achieved five victories and retained his title in the 75-kilogram division, which he had already obtained in his debut at the world championships held in Belgrade (Serbia) in 2021. His brilliant performance in the competition earned him the status of double world champion in his specialty.
The FCB statement stated: “During his return to his homeland, on a stopover in Panama, the double world champion declined to continue his trip to Havana, which implies his break with the national team and with the competitive commitments contracted for it and coming seasons”.
The FCB described Hernández’s decision to leave the delegation as “serious indiscipline”, in keeping with the official discourse of the Cuban regime.
After his victory, the Cuban sports website Hit praised Hernandez for his performance in Tashkent, describing him as a “favourite” who “left no room for doubt.” The official media outlet observed that the boxer, “endowed with tools such as speed in striking and displacements (…) gave the answer that other established boxers did not offer such as Julio César La Cruz (92 kg), Arlen López (80 kg), Roniel Iglesias (67 kg) and Lázaro Álvarez (63.5 kg)”.
Hernández, after his victory over the Brazilian Wanderlei Pereira, had declared: “I have grown as an athlete, incorporating more resources and taking advantage of the experience accumulated since I joined the national team.”
Despite the loss of Hernández, Cuba achieved a respectable fourth place in the Tashkent world championships, obtaining silver medals thanks to rookies Saidel Horta (57 kg), Erislandy Álvarez (60 kg) and Fernando Arzola (92 kg), and bronze medals for Alejandro Claro (48 kg) and Yosbany Veitía (54 kg).
