The Cuba Domadores are already in the final of the IV World Series of Boxing after categorically defeating the Russian Boxing Team by a 5-0 sweep in the second semifinal match. It was an unobjectionable win over the powerful squad (8 wins and two defeats in the aggregate) that opens the door for the Cubans to discuss the coveted throne in its first appearance in the tournament.
The buzz of the audience in the Havana’s Sports City was too much again for the Russians that came ready to undertake the feat of reversing the 2-3 of the first semifinal, but ultimately left upset when they were crashed in the 5 fights of the night. On the WSB, in their two visits to Havana out of 10 combats, they couldn’t win one.
Despite Domadores previous favoritism before the match, a reverse of the situation was always latent, but everyone knew beforehand the hosts were qualitatively superior. For the disciples of Rolando Acebal , the toughest combats were the opening match (52 kg) and the closing one ( + 91 kg) , the rest with only the announcement of its contenders the winner were known.
Youngster Leodan Núñez opened the match for the Caribbean team. It was his second appearance in this WSB and he didn’t disappoint. He beat his rival Ovik Oggannisian all the way for five straight rounds, with smart moves and rapid fire in the short distance, leaving no rooms to doubts of who the victor was at the end.
Meanwhile, in the 60 kilogram division, Lázaro Álvarez was too much for his opponent Konstantin Bogomazov, who barely could do anything for the victory. Despite his efforts to corner the Cuban stylist were fruitless thanks to the great defense and foot work of the Cuban who even knocked him down with a short left hook in the very first round. After lots of dancing, and knowing himself a victor, the Cuban planted his feet on the ring and had a terrific mano a mano with the Russian just to please the audience.
The Domadores only need at that point one more win to qualify to the finals, since it had won in Russian soil 3-2. It was then the turn of Roniel Iglesias, who had a worthy opponent in the 2009 world runner-up and bronze medalist in London Olympics Andrei Zamkovoi. Iglesias was way too good for the Russian to stand a chance, and thus Cuba clinched its berth at the finals.
The last two combats, in 81 kg and 91 kg were easy for the Cubans. Julio Cesar La Cruz, who returned to the WSB after being shot some months ago and the afterwrads surgery, had no problems to beat Aleksander Khotyantsev. The Russian came with two TKOs in previous combats, but the Cuban never gave him an opportunity to use his powerful punches. In +91 José A. Larduet and Magomed Omarov put up a good show, with lots of action, but no effective punches, to end in the last Domadores victory of the match
Now Domadores will have to wait to learn on who its rival will be from the match between the defending champions Kazakhstan Astana Arlans and the Azerbaijan Baku Fires
