All ten Cuban boxers qualify for the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships finals
An incredible day of semi-finals action thrilled the watching spectators in Vargas, Venezuela as the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships nears its climax.
Bout of the day
Puerto Rico’s Danielito Zorrilla earned silver in the last edition of the Central American & Caribbean Games, and reached the finals in Vargas after an outstanding performance against Venezuela’s AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Luis Arcon.
Zorrilla was aggressive in the opening stages of the Light Welterweight battle, and his frequent attacks caught the eye through first three minutes.
Arcon soaked up the support of his home Venezuelan fans in the second frame as his accuracy improved, before Zorrilla once again resumed control of the bout in the third and final round.
After his impressive victory, Zorrilla will now meet Cuba’s Yasnier Toledo in the gold medal bout.
Team of the day
Cuba celebrated yet another incredible day in the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships, where all ten of their boxers advanced to finals of the event.
Their youngest team member, 18-year-old Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez met with US teenager Nico Hernandez at Light Flyweight (49 kg), and started the day of success with a composed performance.
Yosbany Veitia surprisingly lost his Flyweight (52 kg) final in the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, and fought determinedly against Colombia’s Ceiber David Avila as he attempts to atone for that Toronto defeat.
Further triumphs were achieved by two-time AIBA World Champions Lazaro Alvarez (60 kg) and Julio Cesar La Cruz (81 kg), while one of the best Cuban performances was delivered by Erislandy Savon, who was powerful, fast and accurate against Brazil’s Juan Nogueira in the semi-final of the Heavyweight (91 kg) class.
Surprise of the day
Argentina’s Welterweight (69 kg) star Alberto Ignacio Palmetta achieved the biggest surprise of the entire tournament when he eliminated Venezuela’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist and Toronto 2015 Pan American Games winner Gabriel Maestre.
The Venezuelan began the bout better, and looked to be heading to yet another victory, but a change of tactics from Palmetta enabled him to turn the tide, and clinch a memorable split decision upset.
Palmetta will now fight London 2012 Olympic Champion Roniel Iglesias in the Welterweight final, after the Cuban eliminated Mexico’s Marvin Cabrera.
The Round-Up
Mexico’s Joselito Velasquez continued his tough tournament with a magnificent win over Dominican Republic’s Victor Daniel Santillan at Light Flyweight (49 kg).
Venezuela’s youngest boxer Yoel Finol also maintained his winning ways by eliminating Costa Rican Flyweight (52 kg) David Alejandro Jimenez.
Brazil’s Robson Donato Conceicao outpointed Venezuela’s Luis Cabrera to set up an incredible Lightweight (60 kg) final with Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez, which will be a rematch of the Almaty 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships final.
Fact of the day
The twenty finalists of the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships come from the following nations:
- Cuba: 10 finalists
- Venezuela: 3 finalists
- Argentina: 2 finalists
- Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico: 1 finalist
Quote of the day
“I had a lot of bouts in AIBA Pro Boxing, so therefore I am not tired after the semi-finals as I had to box only three rounds in the different stages of the championships. I think I was a hard target today, and my footwork was great enough to win the semi-final,” said Ecuador’s APB boxer Marlo Delgado, who eliminated Venezuela’s Endry Saavedra at Middleweight (75 kg)
Tomorrow’s program
The ten gold medal bouts will take place on the sixth competition day in Vargas, where all of the weight classes will be in action.
Finals schedule
- 49 kg: Joselito Velasquez MEX – Joahnys Oscar Argilagos CUB
- 52 kg: Yosbany Veitia CUB – Yoel Finol VEN
- 56 kg: Andy Cruz CUB – Hector Luis Garcia DOM
- 60 kg: Lazaro Alvarez CUB – Robson Donato Conceicao BRA
- 64 kg: Yasnier Toledo CUB – Danielito Zorrilla PUR
- 69 kg: Roniel Iglesias CUB – Alberto Ignacio Palmetta ARG
- 75 kg: Arlen Lopez CUB – Marlo Delgado ECU
- 81 kg: Julio Cesar La Cruz CUB – Albert Ramirez VEN
- 91 kg: Erislandy Savon CUB – Yamil Alberto Peralta ARG
- +91 kg: Leinier Pero CUB – Edgar Ramon Munoz VEN
