Rolando Martínez destroyed the aspirations of Raisel Moncada (CMG) in a featherweight division match, one of the most anticipated fight of the first day of the 60th Playa Girón National Boxing Tournament organized in the Sancti Spiritus City.
Dressed in blue, the left-hander overcame his height disadvantage and asserted his status as monarch of the Cologne World Cup in 2023, to beat 4-0 an opponent who came here with the dream of improving the bronze medal won in the previous edition of the island’s elite competition.
“The key was to comply with the tactical plan indicated by my coaches, which consisted of moving all the time, with entrances and exits, and prioritizing actions with the leading hand,” he commented a few meters from the ring installed in the Yayabo room.
When speaking with reporters, Martínez added that he maintained the intention of avoiding the push of a rival who sought to cut him off all the time, although he acknowledged that in the midst of that effort he could not prevent the loss of a point due to tackles with his head.
“Now there is no choice but to continue fighting, preparing myself better for more demanding goals, which are a motivation,” he concluded, knowing that on Thursday he will have a litmus test when he will have the match with the world’s runner-up Saidel Horta (CFG), favorite to reign.
The afternoon session, which began with an opening ceremony led by authorities from the province and the National Institute of Sports Physical Education and Recreation (Inder), ended with the victories for the gold medalist in the Camagüey 2022 event, Osvaldo Díaz (SSP), also in the featherweight category, and Juan Ilizástigui (GTM) in the median.
Another man known as Darielqui Palmero (SSP), of the lightweights, also smiled, and the public supported the embellished facility with good attendance, although he suffered with the 3-2 of Luis Vinent (SCU) over Arnaldo Vega (SSP) in a lively clash among light welters.
This Wednesday there will be two programs again, in which in the afternoon stand out, the match of two-time Olympic light heavyweight champion Arlen López (GTM), who aspires to defeat Enmanuel Chirino (PRI) towards his ninth coronation in these events.
Translated by Liubis Balart Martinez
