AT the Pan American Games qualification event in Managua, Nicaragua, the big shock of the finals saw American 75kgs Troy Islay beat Arlen Lopez, the Cuban top seed and brilliant World and Olympic gold medallist. Islay took a split decision victory in their contest on April 10. US welter Delante Johnson did win a gold medal, though he didn’t get the chance to box Roniel Iglesias, processing through his semi-final and final by walkover. In the women’s event Virginia Fuchs also won gold for the USA, beating Valeria Cardenias of Costa Rica in their flyweight final. Joining her at the top of the podium was Rashida Ellis with victory over Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira in the 60kgs final.
The Cubans, even without a women’s team, still topped the medal table with five gold medals, two silvers and one bronze. Their champions were familiar stars like Erislandy Savon at 91kgs, Julio La Cruz at 81kgs, Andy Cruz at 64kgs and 52kgs Yosbany Veitia, as well as super-heavy Dainier Pero, who on a unanimous decision beat Colombia’s number one seed Cristian Salcedo in the final. The elite Lazaro Alvarez was held to a silver medal at 60kgs. He lost a split decision to Dominica’s Leonel de los Santos. Also at 60kgs, London boxer Shiloh Defreitas represented Jamaica. He won a unanimous decision in his opening contest, beating Guayana’s Yonathan Contreras on a unanimous decision before losing to Colombia’s Jonathan Romero, also unanimously, in the quarter-finals. It does however mean that he has qualified for the Pan American Games.