In AGON Sports’ historic professional boxing event in Cuba, Julio Cesar La Cruz and Co. deliver top-class fights and spectacular victories.
In a historic moment for Cuban professional boxing, the first officially sanctioned professional boxing event on the island since 1961 took place last night at the Hotel Meliá Internacional in Varadero, Cuba. Promoter Ingo Volckmann and AGON Sports were responsible for the event, which featured top-class Olympic champions.
In the main fight of the evening, two-time Olympic champion Julio Cesar La Cruz (4-0, 4 knockouts) was in the spotlight. Despite an early knockdown against the experienced Dilan Prasovic (18-6, 15 knockouts), La Cruz turned the tables impressively and celebrated a technical knockout victory in round three.
Left hook ends the battle
La Cruz initially dominated round one with his well-known defensive style and precise jabs. But right at the start of the second round, Prasovic surprised him with a left hook that sent the Cuban to the floor – the first knockdown of La Cruz’s professional career. However, the “Shadow” from Camagüey responded immediately and returned the favor towards the end of the same round with a right counter that forced Prasovic to the ground.
La Cruz increased the pressure in round three. A clean jab followed by an over-hard right punch sent Prasovic to the floor again. This was followed shortly afterwards by a left punch to the face, which led to the third knockdown. A hard left hook to the body finally ended the fight. The referee stopped the fight at 1:30 minutes of the third round – a dominant finish for the Cuban.
With this victory, La Cruz secured his position as the official mandatory challenger for the WBA World Bridgerweight title, held by Russian puncher Muslim Gadzhimagomedov. A potential world-class clash is imminent.
Erislandy Alvarez provides the highlight
In the co-main event, Paris 2024 Olympic champion Erislandy Álvarez (4-0, 2 knockouts) provided an early highlight. The lightweight from Cuba only needed one round to defeat the experienced Dominican Brainer Soli (21-6-1, 13 knockouts) by knockout.
Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Lázaro Álvarez (7-0, 4 knockouts) also dominated his fight. In round seven, he stopped the previously unbeaten Miguel Queliz Santos (10-1-1, 4 knockouts) via technical knockout.
Moussa Gholam wins by T.K.O.
Olympic double gold medal winner Arlen López (4-0, 2 knockouts) went the full distance against Martin Ezequiel Bulacio (14-9, 10 knockouts) in the light heavyweight division. The judges scored unanimously in favor of the Cuban: twice 100-90 and once 99-91 – a clear-cut affair.
Moroccan-Spanish super featherweight Moussa Gholam (23-1, 13 knockouts) also left no doubt, stopping Misael Vásquez (17-5-1, 15 knockouts) by T.K.O. in round three.
Another highlight was the debut of 40-year-old Yakelin Estornell from Guantanamo. In a welterweight fight against Lina Tejada (13-6-1, 10 knockouts), Estornell (1-0, 1 knockout) needed less than two rounds to force her opponent to give up with clear punches.