The "Night of Champions" boxing event, set for August 27 at the Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva in Havana, promises to be an unforgettable spectacle. The event will feature Cuban Olympic double champions Julio César La Cruz and Arlen López, with each winner walking away with a substantial sum of $120,000.
Organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA), La Cruz will face Uzbek Madiyar Saydrakhimov in the 92-kilogram category, while López will battle Belarusian Aliaksei Alfiorau in the 80-kilogram division. These two bouts will be the only 10-round matches, offering the highest purses of the night.
The local fighters are coming off disappointing performances at Paris 2024. "La Sombra," who holds titles from Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020, lost in his debut, while López, also a champion from those same editions, settled for a bronze medal after falling in the semifinal round.
Celebrating World Boxing Day, the event will also feature Erislandy Álvarez (63.5 kg), an Olympic champion in France. The fighter from Cienfuegos will take on Uruguayan Eduardo Estela, who boasts a professional record of 16 wins and three losses, according to JIT.
The lineup includes another two-time Olympic champion Roniel Iglesias (67 kg) squaring off against Armenian Gurgen Madoyan. Additionally, Lázaro Álvarez (63.5 kg) and Saidel Horta (57 kg) will face Uzbek Mujibillo Tursonov and Russian Ruslan Belousov, respectively.
It's worth noting that this event marks the return of professional boxing to Cuba after decades of absence, although some argue that this transition began with the now-defunct World Series of Boxing.
Fight Card:
57 kg: Saidel Horta vs. Ruslan Belousov (RUS)
63.5 kg: Lázaro Álvarez (CUB) vs. Mujibillo Tursonov (UZB)
63.5 kg: Erislandy Álvarez (CUB) vs. Eduardo Estela (URU)
67 kg: Roniel Iglesias (CUB) vs. Gurgen Madoyan (ARM)
80 kg: Arlen López (CUB) vs. Aliaksei Alfiorau (BLR)
92 kg: Julio César La Cruz (CUB) vs. Madiyar Saydrakhimov (UZB)
Key Insights into Havana's Boxing Event
To provide a deeper understanding of this highly anticipated boxing event in Havana, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What is the date and location of the "Night of Champions" event?
The "Night of Champions" event will take place on August 27 at the Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva in Havana.
Who are the main fighters participating in the event?
The main fighters include Cuban Olympic double champions Julio César La Cruz and Arlen López, among others.
What are the prize amounts for the winners?
Each winner will receive a substantial prize of $120,000.
Which organizations are involved in organizing the event?
The event is organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA).