Mexico City – Mexico, Aug 01, 2013:- The World Series of Boxing (WSB) today held a press conference ahead of the highly anticipated exhibition match between the Mexico Guerreros and the visiting Cuba Domadores.
The bout is particularly significant because it represents the first time in over 50 years that Cuban authorities will allow their boxers to compete in a pro format since this version of the sport was banned by Fidel Castro in 1962. As one of the most successful boxing nations in history, the Cuban WSB team, (named the “Domadores”) is expected to be a force to reckon with in Season IV of the WSB when it kicks off in November this year.
The seriousness with which the Cubans are approaching the competition has been made apparent with the announcement of their line-up for this exhibition bout against the Guerreros. The roll-call looks as close to a boxing dream team as you could hope to get. It includes the likes of Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo, the 2009 World and London 2012 Olympic Champion and Lázaro Jorge Álvarez Estrada, the 2011 World Champion and the current number two ranked Bantamweight (56kg) in the world by AIBA. [Please see below for full list of anticipated Cuban team]
Mexico Guerreros meanwhile are the perfect choice of opponents for the Cubans as they seek to test themselves for the first time across the five rounds that are standard in the WSB. As Season III (2012/2013) semi-finalists and with their own proud boxing tradition, Mexico have an experienced WSB Team who should offer a firm test to the star studded Domadores line-up as it seeks to get adjusted to the more demanding WSB competition format.
Present at the event was Carlos Padilla, President of the Mexican Olympic Committee. “Our national boxing federation has our full support,” said Padilla. “The WSB represents an opportunity for our athletes to compete with the best boxers from around the world. This will help Mexican boxers in their future careers and in their objective of obtaining a medal in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.”
Also in attendance was Horacio de la Vega, General Director of the Sport Institute of Mexico City, who explained that the WSB has political support in high places in Mexico; “I have been instructed by the mayor of Mexico City, Dr. Miguel Angel Mancera Espinosa, to fully support the WSB and International Boxing Association (AIBA) in collaboration with the ministry of Sport CONADE, the Mexican Olympic Committee and the Mexican boxing federation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Alberto Puig de la Barca, President of the Cuban Boxing Federation felt that the historic event would also be important to the Cuban team. “This will be Cuba’s first appearance in the WSB and we are motivated and getting prepared to face a great team in the Mexico Guerreros,” said Puig. “Our main objective is to gain experience from the challenge posed by the Mexican boxers as they have already competed in the WSB for three seasons. Nevertheless we have a strong team and we have great rivals that will allow for a wonderful boxing spectacle for fans.”
As a PR event, the evening was also notable for attracting the attention of dignitaries like those mentioned above and VIPs such as: Carlos Pad B illa Becerra, President of the Mexican Olympic Committee, Dagoberto Rodríguez Barrera, the Cuban Ambassador in Mexico, Reynaldo González López a Cuban International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member, Karim Bouzidi the Chief Executive Officer of the WSB, Ricardo Contreras Hernández, President of the Mexican Boxing Federation, Horacio de la Vega Flores, Sport Director of Mexico City and Gerardo Saldivar Ovalle, General Manager of the Mexico Guerreros.
There now follows a list of confirmed Cuban Boxers in the Domadores team:
Yosbany Veitía Soto (Light Flyweight – 49kg)
Date of birth: 12-3-1992
Left handed
Current AIBA Ranking: 10th
Bronze medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011
Runner-up at Guadalajara Pan Am Games 2011
Gerardo M. Cervantes Tejería (Flyweight – 52kg)
Date of birth: 26-4-1993
Right handed
Champion of the “Córdova Cardín” Tournament in Havana 2013
Champion of the “Roberto Balado” Cup in Havana 2013
Lázaro Jorge Álvarez Estrada (Bantamweight – 56kg)
Date of birth: 28-1-1991
Left handed
Current AIBA Ranking: 2nd
World Champion (Baku) 2011
Bronze medal at London 2012 Olympic Games 2012
Champion at Guadalajara Pan Am Games 2011
Iván Oñate Louis (Lightweight – 60kg)
Date of birth: 12-4-1986
Right handed
Champion “Playa Girón” National Tournament 2012
Yasniel Toledo López (Light Welterweight – 64kg) Date of birth: 15-9-1989
Left handed
Current AIBA Ranking: 2nd
Bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games
Runner-up at AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011
Champion at Guadalajara Pan Am Games 2011
Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo (Welterweight – 69kg)
Date of birth: 14-8-1988
Left handed
Current AIBA Ranking: 4th
Gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games
Bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
World Champion (Milan) 2009
Carlos D. Banteur Suárez (Middleweight – 75kg)
Date of birth: 13-10-1986
Right handed
Silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Champion at Guadalajara Pan Am Games 2011
World Champion (Jeju) 2004
Julio César La Cruz Peraza (Light Heavyweight – 81kg)
Date of birth: 11-8-1989
Right handed
Current AIBA Ranking: 2nd
World Champion (Baku) 2011
Champion at Guadalajara Pan Am Games 2011
Erislandy Savón Cotilla (Heavyweight – 91kg)
Date of birth: 21-7-1990
Right handed
Current AIBA Ranking: 9th
Junior World Champion 2008
Runner-up at “Playa Girón” National Tournament 2012
José Ángel Larduet Gómez (Super Heavyweight – 91+kg)
Date of birth: 23-2-1990
Right handed
Current AIBA Ranking: 6th
Junior World Champion 2008
Bronze medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Milan 2009
There now follows a list of the Mexican Guerreros team expected to face them for the match:
Joselito Velázquez Altamirano (Light Flyweight – 49kg)
Gold medal, Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011
Gold medal, National Olimpiad 2013
Elías Emigdio(Flyweight – 52kg)
Ranked no 3 in WSB individual ranking Season III
2011 Mexican National Olympiad – Gold medal
2010 Continental Championship – Bronze medal
Brian González (Bantamweight – 56kg)
Lindolfo Delgado (Lightweight – 60kg)
Juan Pablo Romero (Light Welterweight – 64kg)
2012 WSB Individual Champion
2011 National Championship – Gold medal
2010 Continental Championship – Silver medal
Marvin Cabrera (Welterweight – 69kg)
Ranked no 1 in WSB individual ranking Season III
Conrad Cummings IRL (Middleweight – 75kg)
2013 National Championship – Bronze medal
2012 National Championship – Bronze medal
2011 National Championship – Bronze medal
Isaac Muñoz (Light Heavyweight – 81kg)
Ranked no 5 in WSB Individual ranking Season III
91 kgs (Heavyweight – 91kg)
TBC
Gerardo Bisbal PR (Super Heavyweight – 91+kg)
2012 Olympic Qualifier – Bronze medal
2011 Panamerican Games – Bronze medal
2010 National Championship – Gold medal
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