Alvarez silences french crowd with split decision win over Oumiha
PARIS: Cuba’s Erislandy Alvarez delivered a stunning performance to break the hearts of a fervent French crowd by defeating local favorite Sofiane Oumiha in the men’s lightweight boxing final at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Alvarez’s victory was a crucial one for Cuba, as it ensured that their boxers avoided their worst performance since the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, where they only secured two silver medals. Prior to Alvarez’s triumph, Cuba had won just one bronze medal in Paris, putting their boxing legacy at risk.
The atmosphere at Roland Garros was electric, with an ear-splitting roar greeting Oumiha as he entered the arena. The French crowd’s excitement peaked as the local hero mounted a spirited comeback in the final round, winning it in a lung-busting effort. However, Oumiha’s slow start proved costly, as Alvarez dominated the opening round with a clean sweep of 5-0.
Despite Oumiha’s strong showing in the latter rounds, winning them 3-2, the overall decision went in favor of Alvarez with a narrow 3-2 split. Oumiha, a triple world champion and silver medallist from Rio 2016, returned to the amateur circuit after a brief, undefeated stint in the professional ranks. His hopes for Olympic gold were dashed by Alvarez’s strategic and resilient performance.
