Cuba's two-time Olympic boxing champion Julio Cesar La Cruz was surprisingly knocked out of the men's heavyweight competition on Sunday after a 3-2 split decision loss to Azerbaijan's Loren Alfonso. La Cruz, who had previously secured gold in the light heavyweight division at the 2016 Rio Games and the heavyweight division at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, was aiming to join an elite group of boxers with three Olympic gold medals, including Teofilo Stevenson, Felix Savon, and Lazlo Papp.
The match was a gripping contest, with both La Cruz and Alfonso exchanging powerful punches throughout. Despite the intensity, the bout concluded with Alfonso's victory, leading to a respectful embrace between the two fighters at the North Paris Arena.
La Cruz's defeat ends his quest for a third gold medal, although his fellow Cuban boxer, Arlen Lopez Cardona, still has the chance to achieve this milestone. Lopez Cardona will compete in the light heavyweight class on Tuesday, having already won gold in Rio and Tokyo.
Alfonso, reflecting on his victory, expressed his gratitude and modesty, saying, "No, this was just one more fight. I see it as a final because for me it's a secret that I fought with the best in the world. And, well, thank God the result was in my favour, but it could have been in his favour as well." He added that he wasn't focused on the outcome during the match but was instead concentrating on performing his best.
Alfonso is set to face Kazakhstan's Aibek Oralbay in his next bout on Thursday, continuing his pursuit of Olympic success in a highly competitive field.
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