Boxing Results: Olympic Gold Powers Cuban Boxing’s Return: Julio Cesar LaCruz Leads A Night Of Knockouts And Title Wins In Landmark Varadero Event

2016 Olympic Gold Medalist and 2024 Olympian Julio Cesar LaCruz came off the canvas in the second round to drop Dilan Prasovic in the same round at the Hotel Melia International, Varadero, Cuba, on Friday night. Professional boxing returned to Cuba for the first time in 64 years.

Cesar LaCruz, 4-0 (4), stopped Prasovic, 18-6 (15), in the third round of a scheduled 12 Rounds. In the first round’s final minute, LaCruz landed a right on the chin, knocking out Prasovic’s mouthpiece. Prasovic then landed a right on LaCruz’s chin, which grabbed him into a clinch.

Prasovic was outlanding LaCruz mostly in the second round and dropped him with a left on the chin for an 8-count from Referee Luis Pabon. In the final minute, LaCruz landed a right on the chin, dropping Prasovic for an 8-count from Referee Pabon.

In the third round, LaCruz landed a left to the chin in the first minute, dropping Prasovic for an 8-count from referee Luis Pabon. Halfway through the round again, LaCruz dropped the taller Prasovic with a right for another 8-count. Seconds later, a left to the chin and the body from LaCruz and down went Prasovic, causing Referee Luis Pabon to call a halt immediately.

Light heavyweight 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist Arlen Lopez, 4-0, 2 KOs) defeated Martin Ezequiel Bulacio, 14-9 (10) over 10 rounds, for the WBA Continental Americas title.

In the first four rounds, Lopez had an edge out working Bulacio for the most part.

In the seventh round, Lopez landed uppercuts, backing up Bulacio for the entire round. In the ninth round, they continued bumping heads while infighting, and the referee warned Lopez. In the tenth and final round, Bulacio started the first minute with good bodywork before Lopez came back well in a close round.

Light southpaw Lazaro Alvarez (7-0 (4) stopped southpaw Miguel Queliz Santos (10-1-1 (4) after seven rounds of a scheduled 10 rounds for the Continental Americas title.

In the first round’s opening minute, Alvarez landed a lead left on the chin, dropping Queliz for an 8-count from Referee Roberto Ramirez, Jr. In the second round, Alvarez continued out-landing Queliz. At the beginning of the fourth round, Alvarez landed a left on the chin, making Queliz fall into a clinch with him.

In the sixth round, Alvarez gave Queliz a beating for the most part. In the seventh round, Alvarez landed a right cross on the chin, dropping Queliz for an 8-count from Referee Ramirez midway. At the end of the round, the Queliz corner called a halt.

Erislandy Alvarez, 4-0 (2), impressed in knocking out WBA Fedecanbe lightweight champion Brainer Vasquez Soli, 21-6-1 (13), at 0:30 of the first round of a scheduled 10 rounds, for the WBA Continental Americas super lightweight title.

Thirty seconds into the first round, Alvarez landed a right uppercut to the chin, followed by a combination to the chin, and Soli went down without a count from Referee Gustavo Padilla, who immediately waved it off.

Super featherweight Moussa Gholam (23-1, 13 KOs) stopped Misael Vasquez (17-5-1, 15 KOs) 10 rounds for the WBA Continental Americas title. Roberto Ramirez, Jr. was the referee.

Welterweight Yakelin Estornell (1-0) defeated Lina Tejada (13-6-1 (10) by a four-round points decision.

Referee Luis Pabon scored it 40-36.