Cuba’s world runner-up Saidel Horta (60 kg) will return to the ring today at the Independence Cup Boxing tournament taking place in the Dominican Republic, with the participation of eight countries.
Tonight Horta will face Dominican Esequiel Medina, after winning by a close verdict of 3-2 against the local Estrella Ángel, representing the Santiago team, in his first fight earlier this week.
Cuba celebrated a double joy yesterday thanks to the victories of Olympic champions Erislandy Álvarez and Julio César La Cruz.
Both boxers triumphed last night on the fourth day of the tournament, which is being held in this northern province, about 155 kilometers from the capital.
This Wednesday, Álvarez (65 kg) put on a masterclass in the ring, defeating Esequiel Martínez of Santiago by a wide margin of 5-0, according to Eulises Pouyout Despaigne, head coach of the Cuban national team, who spoke to Prensa Latina.
Meanwhile, two-time Olympic champion Julio César La Cruz (+90 kg) won by RSC in the second round against Seht Lawrense of Barbados.
Their victories reinforced the prominence of Cuban boxing in a competition that serves as key preparation for upcoming international events.
The Paris 2024 Olympic champion, Álvarez, made a strong debut last Monday, defeating Miguel Ángel Encarnación of the Dominican Republic’s Team A 3-2 in one of the most closely watched fights of the tournament.
The tournament, which runs until Saturday, brings together boxers from Cuba, the United States, France, Ecuador, Guatemala, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the Dominican Republic’s national teams A and B, and two teams from Santiago de los Caballeros.
The Independence Cup is considered one of the premier amateur boxing competitions in the Caribbean and serves as a key preparation event for the qualifying tournament to be held next March in Mexico, where spots for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo will be at stake.
