World champions Dayira Mesa and Yoana Rodríguez lead the squad with which Cuban boxing will face the women’s section of the qualifying tournament for the Central American and Caribbean Games of Santo Domingo 2026.
Mesa (70 kg) and Yoana (75 kg), recently crowned champions at the Independence Cup held in the Dominican Republic, will be joined by Magda Massó (57 kg), who completed the island’s trio of champions at that traditional tournament.
National commissioner Robinson Poll announced that the other athletes called up are Milena Palomo (51 kg), who was eliminated in that competition, Carisney García (54 kg), Melissa Millares (60 kg), and Erlis Cobas (65 kg), all under the guidance of coaches Ismael Castillo and Gerardo Deroncelet.
The qualifying tournament will be held from the 11th to the 16th of this month in the Mexican city of Guadalajara and will also include men’s competitions, for which Cuba has assembled a team led by Olympic champions Julio César La Cruz (92 kg) and Erislandy Álvarez (65 kg).
The team is completed by 2023 world silver medalists Saidel Horta (60 kg) and Fernando Arzola (+90 kg), two-time world bronze medalist Alejandro Claro (55 kg), Yunier Sorsano (70 kg), and Keilor García (80 kg).
Under the direction of head coach Eulises Pouyout, the coaching staff also includes Rolando Acebal and José Ramón Amador.
Doctor Rafael Lerena and physiotherapist Dailenis Eneida Paz will attend to both teams.
