Cuban boxer Alejandro Claro Fiz failed to secure a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after losing his bronze medal bout against French opponent Billal Bennama. Despite showcasing an impressive performance in his previous matches, Claro Fiz couldn't overcome Bennama, who dominated the ring and won by unanimous decision.
At 23 years old and currently ranked as the third-best boxer in the world in the 51 kg category, the Cuban athlete arrived in Paris with high expectations. His journey to the Olympic podium included a decisive victory over Brazilian Michael Trindade, securing his place in the Olympic competition. Claro had promised to fight for the gold medal, but his semifinal loss left him battling for bronze.
"My first dream was to reach this event, and I've already achieved that. Now I'm going after that gold medal we've worked so hard for," said the Cuban pugilist minutes after his triumph over Trindade.
In the bronze medal match, Claro Fiz faced Bennama, an opponent he had encountered several times before. Both boxers were well-acquainted, having trained together in both Cuba and France. However, Bennama managed to prevail with an effective strategy and precise punches, securing the victory and leaving Claro off the Olympic podium.
Disappointing Results for Cuba
The performance of the Cuban delegation in boxing at Paris 2024 has generally been disappointing, yielding fewer medals than expected in a sport where Cuba has historically dominated for decades. Besides Claro, other Cuban boxers have also struggled to advance in their respective categories.
Among them is double Olympic champion Julio César La Cruz, known as La Sombra, who lost his fight against Cuban-Azeri Loren Berto Alfonso Domínguez. Competing in Paris under the Azerbaijani flag, Berto, who won Olympic bronze in Tokyo 2020 in the light heavyweight category (75-81 kg), eliminated his compatriot by judges' decision (3-2).
Cuba added another defeat in Paris 2024 with Saidel Horta's adverse result against Munarbek Seitbek Uulu of Kyrgyzstan in the 57 kg division. Horta, a silver medalist at the 2023 World Championships, exited the competition after an unexpected situation—a cut on his face prevented him from continuing the fight in the third and final round.
Key Questions About Cuba's Olympic Boxing Performance
Here we address some of the critical questions surrounding the performance of Cuban boxers at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Why did Alejandro Claro Fiz fail to win a bronze medal?
Alejandro Claro Fiz lost his bronze medal match against Billal Bennama due to Bennama's superior strategy and precise punches, leading to a unanimous decision by the judges.
How did Julio César La Cruz perform in Paris 2024?
Julio César La Cruz, also known as La Sombra, lost his fight against Loren Berto Alfonso Domínguez, who competes for Azerbaijan. La Cruz was eliminated by a judges' decision (3-2).
What caused Saidel Horta's early exit from the competition?
Saidel Horta had to exit the competition early due to a cut on his face that prevented him from continuing his fight against Munarbek Seitbek Uulu in the 57 kg division.