Erislandy Alvarez.

Havana, Jan 2 (PL) Cuban boxing will have strong competitions at the dawn of 2025, with the climax in the fight of Erislandy Alvarez against Tajikistan's Bakhodur Usmonov, stresses today the digital site Jit.

This media, linked to the Cuban Sports Institute, stresses that on the 18, the Olympic champion Alvarez (63.5 kilograms) will fight Tajik Bakhodur Usmonov in the semifinal of the Professional World Cup, which began last November in Beijing.

He also recalls that, on that November evening, Alvarez submitted by unanimous vote to Kazakhstan's Adilet Kurmetov, in a six-round fight.

Jit emphasizes that Álvarez is the “favorite (against Usmonov) to enter the fight for the belt against whoever dominates (the fight) between the Serbian Pavel Fedorov and the Russian Gabil Mamedov”.

The note adds that the other test for the men under coach Rolando Acebal's orders will take place at home, with the coliseum of Havana's Ciudad Deportiva once again becoming the venue for a Night of Champions.

Although the pairing has not yet been made official, the president of the Cuban Boxing Federation, Alberto Puig, announced the intention of enrolling stars such as two-time Olympic champion Julio Cesar la Cruz (92 kg), Erislandy Alvarez himself and the also universal silver medalist Saidel Horta (57 kg), in January.

If the initial plans are fulfilled, Jit assures, the legendary fighter La Cruz would compete in 10 rounds against the Tajik Davlat Boltaev, Olympic bronze medalist, in defense of his professional world title.