Havana, May 13 (RHC)-- Yoenlis Hernandez (75 kg) validated the dream of retaining his belt from two years ago and placing Cuba among the countries with monarchs in the World Boxing Championship of Tashkent 2023.

In the first day dedicated to the finals, the Camagüey native was 5-0 ahead of Brazilian Wanderlei Pereira in another demonstration of the hierarchy with which he made the contest a mission without complications.

Speed, rhythm increased by rounds and quickness in his punches again characterized his performance to destroy the South American's desire for revenge, whom he had eliminated in the previous edition.

"What was promised is debt, and here is the gold medal, which is for Cuba," he said in the mixed zone of the crowded Humo Arena from where he congratulated his mother, his grandmother and all the mothers of the Island, who this Sunday will celebrate their day.

"He showed himself better prepared but we were able to keep him at bay to achieve the goal", added the only consecrated player who contributed at the expected level in a squad that could not finish the Saturday attempts of two debutants.

One of them left Cienfuegos' Erislandy Alvarez (60 kg) in silver, who fought one on one with France's Sofiane Oumiha, Olympic runner-up in Rio de Janeiro 2016, who repeated his Belgrade 2021 reign by beating him 4-1.

The boy from Cienfuegos stood up from the first round in which four judges saw him better. And he was not daunted when the Gaul appealed to all his weapons to reverse the scenario to make the predictions come true.

"I went out to give my best to get the title, but it could not be. We studied him to the maximum, but he managed to impose his great experience, and I am happy to have reached the final in my first World Cup," he said.

The other was a test of fire for Fernando Arzola (+92), called to face Olympic champion Bakhodir Jalolov, who managed to be counted for protection almost at the end of the opening act.

The trainers decided that he should not come out at the intermission, and although the 20-year-old Santiago native was disgruntled, the purpose of preserving him prevailed.

"I wanted to complete the three rounds, but I understand the teachers and it is a pride to have faced a great opponent like him, who even fights as a professional," Arzola explained.

Cuba will have one last option this Sunday through the also debutant Saidel Horta (57 kg), determined to seal his excellent work here with success over Asia's number one Abdumalik Khalokov, another of the hopes of an Uzbekistan that already celebrated three scepters and will be looking for another four on that date.  

SATURDAY'S FINAL

75 kg: Yoenlis Hernandez (CUB) 5-0 to Wanderlei Pereira (BRA)

60 kg: Sofiane Oumiha (FRA) 4-1 to Erislandy Álvarez (CUB)

+92 kg: Bakhodir Jalolov (UZB) ABA-2 to Fernando Arzola (CUB)

48 kg: Zanzha Tashkenbay (KAZ) 5-0 to Skhil Alahverdovi (GEO)