Cuba's Domadores Challenge China Dragons in WBS

Welterweight Arisnoydis Despaigne was presented among the five contenders of Cuba's 'Domadores' team to challenge China Dragons in the 5th World Boxing Series (WBS) at Havana's 'Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva' Friday night.

Despaigne, runner up world champion in 2013 and winner in the final fight of the current champions last season, will fight Mongolian Hurichabilige, one of the foreign members of the Chinese team.

The rest of the fights include flyweight Yosbany Veitía-Yong Chan, lightweight Lázaro Álvarez-Jun Shan, cruiser weight Julio César La Cruz-Guojn Shi and heavyweight Leinier Peró-Vladan Babic..

Serbian Vladan Babic is the European champion in the heavyweight division and has 20 kg over Peró but this disadvantage in weight it is not an obstacle because the Cuban fighter is used to these differences and will fight to win. He said: “I'm not so overweight in this division and I resort to my technique and speed over the ring to beat my opponents.”

Peró added: “I have been in this division for five months only. I have several fights in the Playa Girón Tournament last year and in a previous contest in Camagüey and I have not felt completed fit but I am doing good in the process of adaptation.”

Cuban trainer Rolando Acebal said some strategic and provisional changes have been made but not so many to maintain their positive results. They expect to beat China 5-0 as the Asian team has shown a poor performance in its three previous presentations winning only 5 out 15 fights.

So far, Domadores and Otamans lead Group A with nine points. The Cuban team have previously defeated Morocco Atlas Lions, Algeria Dessert Hawks and Russia.

Cuba Loses to Venezuela in Caribbean Baseball Series

Balbino Fuenmayor's homer to drive in two runs and Cesar Valdez's pitching of seven solid innings gave the Venezuelan Caribbean Anzoategui team a 6-2 victory over Cuba's Pinar del Río team on Thursday to maintain their unbeaten position in the Caribbean Baseball Series in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Venezuelan pitcher Cesar Valdez allowed two runs by single homers of Alex Malleta and Luis Alberto Valdes. In seven innings on the mound, Valdes allowed seven hits, two earned runs, struck out eight and walked none.

Cuba was ahead at the bottom of the second inning by Malleta's home run to right field. But Anzoategui reacted in the third inning to overturn the score in its favor 4-1.

Starter Cesar Valdez, after Malleta's homer, focused on his throws to succeed the following innings without difficulty until Valdes homer in the seventh, when he pass the ball to reliever Luis Ramirez, who pitched the eighth inning without trouble.

Closer Pedro Rodríguez allowed two singles in the ninth inning, but managed to get three outs that secured the Venezuelan victory.

Dominican Elian Herrera batted the game-winning hit to drive in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and his team beat Mexico 3-2 on Thursday night.

The Dominican Republic win (2-1) eliminated host Puerto Rico from the tournament and helped Cuba (1-3) advance to the semifinals. Even if Puerto Rico wins its game on Friday, the team will not advance to the next round due to their lost to the Cuban team.