AGON promoter Ingo Volckmann brings professional boxing back to Cuba: Olympic champions dominate in professional wrestling – La Cruz’s knockout triumph in the highlight video.
The Berlin promotion AGON Sports under the direction of Ingo Volckmann wrote boxing history last Friday evening with the “Cuban Boxing Night”. For the first time since 1962, a professional boxing event took place on Cuban soil – a premiere with international appeal. The venue was the Convention Center of the “Melia Internacional” in Varadero, where numerous national and international stars stepped into the ring.
Estornell provides a historic moment
“I am very satisfied with this event,” said promoter Ingo Volckmann . “The Convention Center was packed to the rafters with spectators who were treated to first-class boxing.”
The evening was characterized by high-class fights and historic moments. Yakelin Estornell made the start. The 40-year-old Cuban provided a historic moment: she was the first woman ever to enter the ring as a professional boxer under the Cuban flag. Estornell left no doubt about her determination right from the start and clearly dominated her opponent Lina Tejada from the Dominican Republic. In the second round, she forced the referee to stop the fight with numerous punches.
Moussa Gholam, the Moroccan newcomer to AGON Sports, celebrated a successful debut for the Berlin boxing team. In a technically strong fight against Misael Vasquez, Gholam impressed with well-considered actions, fast combinations and tactical discipline. He ended the fight with a T.K.O. and won the “WBA Continental Americas Gold” title in the super featherweight division.
Two-time Olympic champion Arlen Lopez (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020) put in a composed and dominant performance in his fourth professional fight. He remained in control over ten rounds against the experienced Argentinian Martin Ezequiel Bulacio. Lopez landed clear punches and dictated the action with clever ring control. In the end, the light heavyweight won unanimously on points and secured the “WBA Continental Latin America” title.
Lazaro Alvarez returned to professional boxing with a strong performance. The three-time amateur world champion put his boxing class to good use against Miguel Queliz Santos from the Dominican Republic. After the seventh round, the Dominican’s corner decided to give up the fight. Alvarez thus won by technical knockout and secured the “WBA Continental America” lightweight title.
Most spectacular action by Erislandy Alvarez
The Olympic champion from Paris (2024), Erislandy Alvarez, delivered one of the most spectacular performances of the evening. After just 30 seconds, he sent his Dominican opponent Brainer Vasquez to the floor with an explosive left hook – knockout! An exclamation mark in the super lightweight division that earned him the “WBA Continental Latin America” title.
Highlight video: Watch the Knockdown Festival with Julio Cesar La Cruz here!
The charismatic two-time Olympic champion Julio Cesar La Cruz once again proved his exceptional class. La Cruz put on a dominant performance against the experienced Montenegrin and former world championship challenger Dilan Prasovic. He knocked his opponent down four times in the first three rounds, after having to go down himself without further ado in the second. The referee stopped the contest after many clear, crisp hands and then a total of four knockdowns. This makes La Cruz the mandatory challenger for the WBA World Bridgerweight title.
With this unique event, AGON Sports has not only set a sporting exclamation mark, but also a cultural signal: professional boxing is back in Cuba – professionally organized, internationally relevant and top-class sport.
Text: Press release / AGON Sports