Havana, August 27 (JIT)-- A win for Lázaro Álvarez and a setback for Julio César La Cruz against ranked hosts gave different nuances to Cuba's presence at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Night of Champions, held today in the Russian city of Serpukhov.

Lazaro (63.5 kg), triple champion of the world, fought against the third at that level Vsevolod Shumkov to win a 5-0 decision that will boost his chances of being part of the Cuban team for the upcoming Pan American Games.

The owner of three Olympic bronze medals minimized his opponent from start to finish, whose face showed some traces of a precise, well-structured attack, supported by a better physical shape that increased as the fight progressed.

Julio (92 kg), double Olympic king and five-time world titleholder, stepped into the ring in search of his third consecutive victory over two-time world champion and silver medalist Muslim Gadzhimagomedov, but the judges saw the latter win 4-1.

In the fight that ended the evening, the West Indian got off to a better start, and although his rhythm was not the same in rounds three and four, the response of his victim in the Tokyo 2020 final seemed insufficient for the celebration.