The Cuban Alejandro Claro (51 kg) lost today 2-3 for bronze in a duel of high carats with the French Billal Bennama in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games.
In the event that hosts his debut under the five rings, the Caribbean number three in the world could not repeat the credit over a man with more “road”, whom he had defeated in a close bilateral match held in April in Varadero.
After a first round in which he complied well with the indication of initiating the attacks and passing the left punches of his opponent, the judges voted 4-1 (it should have been 5-0) for the Caribbean and the feeling prevailed that his tools would be enough to smile.
However, his dominance was not the same at the intermission, when the 2023 European Games champion shortened the distance and increased the offensive rhythm in response to the constant cheering of his thousands of fans.
Then, the officials faulted 3-2 for him, but Claro continued in front 1-0.
In the midst of the drama of a demanding duel for both, the espirituano tried everything in the conclusive round, but the balance of the exchanges did not allow him to restore the order imposed in the initial act and again the ruling favored 3-2 to Bennama, owner of second and third seats in universal jousting.
“I didn’t really see myself losing, although it was a difficult fight, against a quality opponent”, said minutes later the boy from the Island, who regretted not having achieved the goal of bringing the second medal for his squad, to add it to the one won the day before by Erislandy Alvarez (63.5 kg).
Tonight will be the other option for Cuba to increase its presence in the medal table in pugilism, when double Olympic gold medalist Arlen Lopez (80 kg) faces Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev, world youth leader in 2022 and bronze medalist at the Asian Games.
