All All ten Cuban boxers qualify for the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships finals

An incredible day of semi-finals action thrilled the watching spectators in Vargas, Venezuela as the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships nears its climax.

Bout of the day

Puerto Rico’s Danielito Zorrilla earned silver in the last edition of the Central American & Caribbean Games, and reached the finals in Vargas after an outstanding performance against Venezuela’s AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Luis Arcon.

Zorrilla was aggressive in the opening stages of the Light Welterweight battle, and his frequent attacks caught the eye through first three minutes.

Arcon soaked up the support of his home Venezuelan fans in the second frame as his accuracy improved, before Zorrilla once again resumed control of the bout in the third and final round.

After his impressive victory, Zorrilla will now meet Cuba’s Yasnier Toledo in the gold medal bout.

Team of the day

Cuba celebrated yet another incredible day in the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships, where all ten of their boxers advanced to finals of the event.

Their youngest team member, 18-year-old Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez met with US teenager Nico Hernandez at Light Flyweight (49 kg), and started the day of success with a composed performance.

Yosbany Veitia surprisingly lost his Flyweight (52 kg) final in the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, and fought determinedly against Colombia’s Ceiber David Avila as he attempts to atone for that Toronto defeat.

Further triumphs were achieved by two-time AIBA World Champions Lazaro Alvarez (60 kg) and Julio Cesar La Cruz (81 kg), while one of the best Cuban performances was delivered by Erislandy Savon, who was powerful, fast and accurate against Brazil’s Juan Nogueira in the semi-final of the Heavyweight (91 kg) class.

Surprise of the day

Argentina’s Welterweight (69 kg) star Alberto Ignacio Palmetta achieved the biggest surprise of the entire tournament when he eliminated Venezuela’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist and Toronto 2015 Pan American Games winner Gabriel Maestre.

The Venezuelan began the bout better, and looked to be heading to yet another victory, but a change of tactics from Palmetta enabled him to turn the tide, and clinch a memorable split decision upset.

Palmetta will now fight London 2012 Olympic Champion Roniel Iglesias in the Welterweight final, after the Cuban eliminated Mexico’s Marvin Cabrera.

The Round-Up

Mexico’s Joselito Velasquez continued his tough tournament with a magnificent win over Dominican Republic’s Victor Daniel Santillan at Light Flyweight (49 kg).

Venezuela’s youngest boxer Yoel Finol also maintained his winning ways by eliminating Costa Rican Flyweight (52 kg) David Alejandro Jimenez.

Brazil’s Robson Donato Conceicao outpointed Venezuela’s Luis Cabrera to set up an incredible Lightweight (60 kg) final with Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez, which will be a rematch of the Almaty 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships final.

Fact of the day

The twenty finalists of the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships come from the following nations:

Cuba: 10 finalists

Venezuela: 3 finalists

Argentina: 2 finalists

Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico: 1 finalist

Quote of the day

“I had a lot of bouts in AIBA Pro Boxing, so therefore I am not tired after the semi-finals as I had to box only three rounds in the different stages of the championships. I think I was a hard target today, and my footwork was great enough to win the semi-final,” said Ecuador’s APB boxer Marlo Delgado, who eliminated Venezuela’s Endry Saavedra at Middleweight (75 kg)

Tomorrow’s program

The ten gold medal bouts will take place on the sixth competition day in Vargas, where all of the weight classes will be in action.

Finals schedule