EIn boxing – more so in Olympic form – anything can happen, but what is certain is that Spain continues to carve out an enviable present and future. Another of its young values, the Basque Oier Ibarretxe (Galdakao, Bilbao, 2003), is the fourth boxer qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Through the big door, by dominating the American Emilio García, certifying his bill at -63 kilograms and joining José Quiles, Enmanuel Reyes Pla and Laura Fuertes.
Ibarretxe is completing an excellent Pre-Olympic in Bangkok. Only in his debut, against Shtiwi (Israel), was he discussed on the scorecards, to close all the other fights by unanimous decision. He separated García from the square with brilliance on the counter and a left hand that weighed down the Texan boxer. Only in the third and final game did he have any option with the Basque.
The boxer of Galdakao He had already demonstrated his competitive ability in the Olympic cycle. At the Budva European Championship he won the U22 continental gold against the Georgian Gagnidze. One of the fruits of that team created by Rafa Lozano to create a stable base before the Olympic team that seeks to reach the big events and appears throughout the world calendar.
It should be remembered that the 57 to 63 kilogram (lightweight) category is one of the jewels in the crown of amateur boxing. Without going any further, in Tokyo two fighters who are now in the professional world title talks took the podium. Cuban Andy Cruz, one of the best amateurs of all time, with a record of 140-9 As a non-professional and who has not known defeat (3-0) among the majors, it was gold. He beat Keyshawn Davies ‘The Businessman’. The one from Norfolk it was money to go to professionals and score 10-0, leaving names like José Pedraza on the way. The level, with all certainty, will be very high.
SpainThus, there are four places for Olympic boxing. To José Quiles, one of the amateur stars as demonstrated by his fight for the IBA title with Ibáñez in Madrid; Enmanuel Reyes Pla, probably the most media-worthy among the heavyweights; and Laura Fuertes, enormous level in all the major championships, joins an Oier Ibarretxe with the whole future ahead of them.
Rafa Lozano, one victory away from the fifth ticket
The other big news of the day was the victory of Rafael Lozano (-51 kg) against the Ecuadorian Luis Fernando Delgado Vera 4-1 in their round of 16 match, so this Sunday the Olympic berth will be at stake in a category that distributes four tickets to the French capital.
The bad news of the day was starred by Gazi Jalidov (-80 kg), who was defeated in his quarterfinal match by the Dominican Cristian Javier Pinales, who defeated the Spaniard by unanimous decision (5-0). Jalidov, world bronze medalist last year in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), will not be able to repeat his Olympic presence, since in Tokyo 2020 he achieved a diploma.
