Cuba to Face Russia in WSB Semi-Finals (+photos)

The Cubans advance to the WSB semi-finals to face the Russian Boxing Team, which defeated the Ukraine Otamans in the quarter-finals.

Compared to their 5-0 victory last week in Havana, the Cuba Domadores had a slightly more complicated night at Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire. With a 8-2 score on aggregate, they join the World Series of Boxing (WSB) Season IV semi-finals where they will face the Russian Boxing Team.

The night opened at Light Flyweight (46-49kg) with Puerto Rico 19-year-old Anthony Chacon for the Knockouts, and Cuban Yosbany Veitia, ranked Number 1 in the WSB. The 22-year-old southpaw Domadores controlled the first round with his lethal right jab reaching the target. Chacon had a much better defence in the second round and tried to attack more carefully.  The young Puerto Rican tried to turn up the heat in the following rounds but was less protective and was counted in the fourth after a quick right hook from Veitia. This close fight ended with a split decision in favour of Veitia which meant that a miracle qualification was not up for grabs for the Knockouts.

At the Light Welterweight (64kg), USA Knockouts 19-year-old Carlos Adames from Dominican Republic stood in front of virtuoso and experienced Yasnier Toledo Lopez (3-1 prior to their contest). Toledo’s body shots opened the bout as the Cuban was dancing away from Adames’ attacks. The Dominican reduced the distance in the second round and started to be more efficient, but Toledo’s excellent and speedy footwork was enough for him to stay ahead of the fight all the way through and be awarded a unanimous decision.

USA Knockouts London 2012 Olympian Middleweight (75kg) Marlo Delgado from Ecuador had only won one bout in his WSB career before facing Domadores’ newcomer in the shape of Cuban National Championships silver medallist, 20-year-old Yaciel Despaigne. The South American landed more efficient punches in the opening round and kept the same level of attacks in the second frame. Despaigne came back from nowhere in the third and forced Delgado to raise his level of boxing in the fourth and fifth to win a narrow battle. Delgado made perfect use of his range overall to win with a unanimous decision.

Unfortunately, both teams were awarded a walk-over at Bantamweight (56kg) for USA Knockouts’ Ramon Cardenas Jr. and at Heavyweight (91kg) for Cuba Domadores’ Erislandy Savon.

The Cubans advance to the WSB semi-finals to face the Russian Boxing Team, which defeated the Ukraine Otamans in the quarter-finals. Russia will host Cuba on April 25 before the action shifts to Cuba on May 2. The winner of this semi-final will qualify for the WSB Finals (May 30-31) and face the winner of the other semi-final contested by defending Champions, the Astana Arlans Kazakhstan and the Azerbaijan Baku Fires.

(Taken from www.worldseriesboxing.com)