Cuba has lost one of its leading figures at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Olympic champion Julio César La Cruz has lost his first fight.
The boxer was thus unable to achieve his third Olympic title. La Cruz, who won gold medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was defeated by his compatriot Loren Berto Alfonso, who competes representing Azerbaijan.
Prior to the competition, La Cruz had declared JIT with confidence: “five boxers, five medals.”
Showing his usual confidence, he added: “I feel very focused, and when Julio César La Cruz reaches those levels he is a very difficult opponent to beat in the world. Right now I am only thinking about the beginning of the event, to turn each fight into a step towards gold, until the day of truth arrives and I can fight for that title for which I am here.”
Defeat of Julio Cesar La Cruz
La Cruz, one of Cuba’s flag bearers in Paris, was considered one of the main options for a gold medal for his country.
However, Loren Berto Alfonso, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a gold medal at the Minsk 2019 European Games, showed more “hunger” in the ring.
La Cruz’s defeat is a surprise at the Paris Olympics, shocking boxing fans and the Cuban delegation.
First reactions after Julio César La Cruz’s defeat at Paris 2024
Julio César La Cruz’s unexpected defeat in his first fight at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has generated various reactions among boxing fans.
Josefina Costa commented on the nature of the fight: “It was a difficult fight because both came from the same school, but I still didn’t see Julio Cesar up to par. He hardly threw any punches and when he did they weren’t effective.”
For her part, Tay La Reyna Rodríguez expressed her dissatisfaction with the performance of both boxers: “Neither of them did anything. Neither of them boxed well.”
Wilfredo Figueredo offered a more analytical perspective on La Cruz’s defeat: “It was known that at any moment he would find an opponent who would dance more than him. It is not incredible, it is true, how we tend to overvalue the ‘figures’. Honor to whom honor is due; it was an adequate and studied fight by the other Cuban boxer.”
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