Six Cubans going for gold at AIBA World Boxing Championships after three more advance from semi-final

Three more fighters from Cuba booked their place in the finals of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Championships here today, ensuring that the country will have a total of six representatives going for gold medals.

Following the successes of Joahnys Argilagos, Arlen Lopez and Erislandy Savon yesterday, flyweight Yosbany Veitia was the first Cuban to compete this evening, claiming victory over China’s Jianguan Hu to set up a showdown with Azerbaijan’s Elvin Mamishzada, who beat Algeria’s Mohamed Flissi by TKO.
Reigning lightweight world champion Lazaro Alvarez was the next Cuban to take to the ring, against Uzbekistan’s up and coming Elnur Abduraimov.
Despite a promising start for the Uzbek, Alvarez had little trouble progressing to the final and now finds himself one bout away from a third world title in the space of four years.
"It is important for me to qualify for the Olympic Games, but I don’t want to focus on that right now," said Alvarez, who faces the conqueror of Brazil’s Robson Donato Conceicao, Albert Selimov of Azerbaijan, in the gold medal match.
"My focus is on winning gold here.
"I have to thank the fans though - they are amazing here in Doha, and as a team it’s important to have their backing as we compete in the ring."
Light heavyweight Julio La Cruz, who is bidding for a third consecutive World Championship gold medal, was the last Cuban to fight this evening, coming up against Russia’s hard-hitting Pavel Silyagin.
Silyagin came out swinging from his red corner, forcing La Cruz into defensive mode early on, but in the end the Cuban favourite was simply too good and will meet Ireland's Joseph Ward, a winner by unanimous decision against Uzbekistan's Elshod Rasulov, in the final.