Arlen Lopez and Julio Cesar La Cruz could be legends in Paris

The Cubans are one of the super powers in our sport with strong traditions from the recent nearly six decades and their five-strong team has also gold medal contenders in the upcoming Paris Olympics.

The Cubans competed at the Panamerican Games, the 1^st and 2^nd World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Events successfully and five of their boxers have qualified for the Paris Olympics.

Their female boxers made a debut at the Panamerican Games in Santiago de Chile and their national team members won a few international contests in 2023 as the start in women’s boxing but they were not able to qualify for Paris yet.

Mr. Victor Sanchez, Mr. Robinson Poll and Mr. Jorge Felix Noriega have been selected the national team and worked with the boxers in the previous one year.

The Cubans had also National Championships, the Playa Giron a few weeks ago which gave opportunities to their younger talents.

Cuba has qualified three male boxers thorough the Panamerican Games where Saidel Horta (57kg), Arlen Lopez (80kg) and Julio Cesar La Cruz (92kg) reached the finals and the spots for Paris 2024.

Arlen Lopez and Julio Cesar La Cruz both are two-time Olympic Champions and they are aiming to their third titles to be legends in our sport. Laszlo Papp, Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon are the only boxers who earned three Olympic gold medals in the past.

Alejandro Claro claimed a bronze medal at the 2023 World Boxing Championships in Tashkent and the flyweight (51kg) boxer qualified for the Paris Olympics through the 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event.

Erislandy Alvarez, who replaced the veteran Lazaro Alvarez in the team, earned a silver medal in the last edition of the World Boxing Championships and the 24-year-old boxers qualified for Paris at the light welterweight (63.5kg) where he has strong chances.

Fernando Alejandro Arzola (+92kg) and Jorge Cuellar (71kg) were not able to qualify for the Olympic Games therefore the Cubans will have five male boxers in Paris.