Cuba's youth boxing team excelled as three of their athletes took gold medals at the AIBA Youth World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Photo & Article Source: AIBA 03-05-2010

Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana took the bantamweight title, Irosvani Duverger Aviles the light heavyweight and Lenier Pero Justiz the heavyweight as three of the five Cuban boxers in the finals outpointed their rivals, with an astonishing defensive record that had admitted only one scoring counterpunch between the three of them.

Azerbaijan's Salman Alizada overcame Ryan Burnett from Ireland in the light flyweight final 9:4 to take the first gold for the host nation in the opening bout of today's finals.

Team-mate Shaban Shahpalangov continued his high-scoring run through the championship with a 14-6 victory over Puerto Rico's Emmanuel Rodriguez in the flyweight category to take the host nation's second gold medal.

In the bantamweight final, Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana took Cuba's first gold of the day after easily beating India'a Shiva Thapa.

Germany's Artur Brill triumphed in the featherweight division, beating Cuba's Norlan Yera Diaz with an easy 10:3.

"I still can't believe I'm world champion," he said. "It hasn't sunk in yet. I'll take a week off now and then start preparing for the German championship and then the Youth Olympic Games."

The pressure was on for India's Krishan vikas in the lighweight final as he faced Lithuania's Evaldas Petrauskas. In a close match the Indian used his height and reach advantage to full effect to counteract Petrausakas's body blows, finishing one point ahead to clinch the title.

"I didn't feel that comfortable today. I'm not used to fighting the Russian style of boxers and I'm used to fighting older guys. It left me a little tired and I could feel the pressure on me because it was the finals and India only had two boxers in and one of them had lost."

In the light welterweight contest, Junior World Champion Oleg Nekliudov of the Ukraine beat Argentina's Fabian Maidana 6:2 to secure the double.

Brazil's David Laurencio da Costa overcame the Asian Youth Champion Ahmad Mamadjanov of Uzbekistan to take the gold medal at welterweight with a 4:2 scoreline."I need to prepare more," he said, "for the Panamerican Games and I would like to thank all the other athletes as well as my coach who has helped me so much. The Panamerican Games will be a lot tougher."

Ireland's Joseph Ward was the second boxer of the day to make the transition from Junior to Youth World Champion. He easily overcame an out-of-sorts Damien Hooper from Australia 6-1.

"I boxed a clever fight with my hands tight," he said. "I stuck by the plan . Damien is a good mover but I don't think he's in my class. But you cannot underestimate him and he'll do well in the future."

"I'll train to get ready for Singapore now and hopefully I can pick another gold medal up."

Panamerican Youth Champion Irosvani Duverger Aviles from Cuba took his country's second gold medal after he shut out Uzbekistan's Sardorbek Begaliev 7:0.

Team-mate Lenier Pero Justiz took the third and final gold for his country with an equally impressive 11:0 victory over Russia's Alexander Ivanov.

"No, it definitely was not easy," he said. "Russia is a strong country but I prepared myself and fought well. For the Olympic Games I will prepare some more and I will become the Olympic Champion"

Croatia's Filip Hrgovic entered the ring for the super heavyweight final nursing a cut above the eye but this did not stop him easing ahead of France's Tony Yoka to clinch the title for Croatia.

"I feel really good. The fight was very difficult. My opponent was very tough, like yesterday. But I'm smarter and I've got better technique."

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