Cuba, the small island that has produced a lot superior boxing expertise over time, certainly a long time, has one other gold medal winner. Yesterday in Paris, France, Erislandy Alvarez edged French hero Sofiane Oumiha by way of cut up choice victory.
Alvarez goes residence to Cuba with the light-weight gold medal, and in so doing, he joins the lengthy record of nice Cuban boxers to have gained gold on the Olympics – together with Teofilo Stevenson, Joel Casamayor, Felix Savon, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Mario Kindelan, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis, and others.
It was a detailed, ultra-competitive battle yesterday, and in the long run, the French followers felt very strongly that Oumiha had gained. It was, to repeat, shut, however Alvarez, who triumphed by way of a 3-2 margin, didn’t win by any “theft.” The 24-year-old, 5 years the youthful man, was aggressive from the beginning, whereas Oumiha employed good protection, though some pictures did get residence for Alvarez. As followers know, a few of the scoring we have now seen, not solely at this Olympics however at earlier Video games, has left us shaking our heads. Some pictures land, but the scoring fighter is just not rewarded.
In yesterday’s bout, Alvarez gained the primary spherical on all 5 judges’ playing cards. Oumiha got here again properly in spherical two, successful the session 3 to 2. The ultimate spherical noticed Alvarez shut robust, with him successful the final three minutes of the bout by a 4-1 margin.
Because the official choice was introduced, Oumiha broke down in tears, whereas showman Alvarez celebrated with a backflip.
So, will Alvarez now be part of Cuban fighters like Gamboa, Solis, Casamayor, and others and go professional, or will he resist the professional $greenback the way in which Stevenson (famously), Savon, Kindelan, and others did? Gifted, thrilling to look at, and nonetheless younger sufficient to compete in L.A in 2028, ought to he so want, Alvarez has some massive decision-making to do.
For now, Alvarez, a former gymnast who made the choice to change to boxing, can have a good time being the only Cuban boxer to have gained gold at Paris 2024.
