The “ Playa Girón” National Tournament of boxing wrapped up in Sancti Spíritus. The Cuban boxers, possibly some of the best amateurs of the world, met for one week for to fight for the crown of the Island.
With an acceptable assistance of public, bearing in mind the little publicity of event, several Pan-American champions, world cups and the recent Olympian champions entered the ring. Although this tournament already doesnt enjoy the ancient prestige, the 2012 edition re-lived some of that old passion for this sport in the country.
Tinted by the surprising changes of names in the divisions of 52 kg, 56 kg, 64 kg and 69 kg (all medallists in the past Olympic Games Olympian in London), the tournament demonstrated at moments the level of the Cuban boxers. Finally the changes previous to the event were what caused some expectations prior to the event.
Throughout the week everything turned around one fight, of one bout, of a battle between two exclusive boxers of world name who were now adversaries in the same weight that, perhaps, could embodied all what this tournament meant.
With all the favourites showing their worth in their respective divisions, with the exception of 75 and 91 kg, the 56 kg turned in the attraction of the contest: Robeisy Ramírez against Lázaro Álvarez.
But what still awaits for an answer is why the boxing contests have lost their drama and emotion in Cuba. They don’t make you rise from your seat anymore to shout with a solid and clean punch to the face that shakes the rival. The protection accounts have become extinct, exciting punch exchanges in the center of the ring are nowhere to be seen and boxers devote themselves to get in and out without hitting, and walk around the ring without the elegance and the panache of yore.
Sancti Spíritus will be remembered for being the last tournament with boxers wearing helmets and large gloves. From next year on they will begin to implement in the amateur competences new rules in the sport in order to recover the spectacle of the ring.
In a few months we will see the Cuban boxers without T-shirts and helmets, exhibiting their chests and with smaller gloves.
The reporting of the final cartel would move intelligently the best fight of the day for half the evening. In 56 kg: Olympic champion Ramírez, face to face with World Champion Álvarez. Once the hour of the duel come, the Playa Girón would take his point of inflection.
Robeisy Ramírez from Cienfuegos in red, Lázaro Álvarez from Pinar del Rio in blue. Both left-handed. Lots of caution at the beginning of the bout, for a minute and more they devoted themselves to observe, to each one measure the short steps of the other, to test the intensity of the swings thrown to avoid the exchange. The first moves disappointed expectations although sone saw Ramírez hitting harder and without pressure. On the other hand, Lázaro looked more reserved and less sharp in the attack, he let his opponent always to begin the short lived attacks.
The second round. Ramírez, hitss and goes out, hitsagain, Álvarez can not find him. The Cienfuegos boy without excelling himself has found the short cut to take advantage, with elegant movements of his body avoids the blows thrown by his rival. Alavarez finds him. They started an exchange in the centerof the ring, to the end, the sense of expectancy has come.
They hit each other, right hand, left hand. Robeisy gets the best dividends, he is winning, Álvarez knows it and goes it in his search but it is in vain, that of the red corner slips him and the bell announces the break.
Last round. The one in the blue corner knows that he lags in the scoreboard, he has to force the fight. Ramírez, doesn’t allow him, he is an Olympian champion, he dances, moves the feet, exchanges when he wants. Lázaro Álvarez is not a fighter, it is difficult for him to force teh fight, he is rather a stylist, he likes the average and fights from a distances. His opponent is everything the opposite. Álvarez continues without finding him and the bell warns Robeisy that the red one is the owner of the belt.
Playa Giron Campions
Yosvani Veitía (49 kg), Darieski Palmero (52 kg), Robeisy Ramírez (56 kg), Ivan Oñate (60 kg), Yasniel Toledo (64 kg), Rosniel Iglesias (69 kg), Yasiel Despaigne (75 kg), Julio Cesar la Cruz (81 kg), Lenier Peró (91 kg)Yohandry Toirac (+91 kg).
