Alejandro Claro will fight for a ticket to the Pre-Olympic Boxing Championship

Alejandro Claro's victory and Jorge Cuellar's setback left a bittersweet taste for Cuba in Sunday's Pre-Olympic Boxing Tournament in Busto Arzizio, Italy.

Claro (51 kg), world bronze medalist in Tashkent 2023, disposed of Ecuador's Fernando Delgado after winning the first round 4-1 and losing in the following rounds, both 2-3.

The distribution of the ballots resulted in a 4-1 decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28, 28-28, 28-28, 29-28), which marked his advance to Monday's decisive bout against Colombian Yuberjén Martínez, Olympic runner-up in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

Beating him will be essential to secure a ticket to Paris 2024, elusive this time for Cuellar, who lost 1-4 (29-28, 28-29, 27-30, 28-29, 27-30) to Jordan's Zeyad Ashash, known for beating star Roniel Iglesias.

Also without quotas were the universal silver medalists Erislandy Alvarez (63.5 kg) and Fernando Arzola (+92 kg), victims of Tajikistan's Bakhodur Usmonov and China's Danabieke Bayikewuzi, respectively.

Earlier, Legnis Calá (57 kg) and Yakelín Estornell (66 kg), the only women in the island's armada, had failed in their attempts.

THREE SASHES IN THE YOUTH WORLD CUP

Three valid crowns to second Russia (5) in the men's sector enhanced Cuba's closing of the Adriatic Pearl Youth Boxing World Cup in Budva 2024.

Yojander Fuentes (57 kg), Yurisniel Abreu (75 kg) and Javier Alexander Sayas (86 kg) brought the joy, all 5-0, on silver day for Yoelvis Leyán Tejera (63.5 kg).

Fuentes defeated Russia's David Balanov, Abreu defeated India's Kundu Rahul and Sayas defeated India's Sangwan Hemant.

The 3-2 favorable to the Greek Enmanouil Fotaidis over Tejera was considered unfair by coach Santiago Suarez, who commented that the European was even penalized for grappling and not putting up a fight.

Cuba also celebrated the election of Abreu as the most technical of the fight and completed its booty with bronze by Angel Manuel Sober (48 kg), which means that half of his boys climbed the podium in that Montenegrin city.