Cuba crushes Turkey 5-0 in world series boxing

Cuba's Domadores boxing team swept the floor with Turkey's Conquerors by winning in all five categories on Friday in the 6th World Series Boxing (WSB).

Even though the Caribbean side only had two well known fighters, the team put on an excellent show in Havana's Sports City. With this victory, the team now leads Group A in the tournament with 10 points.

The Domadores team has Santiago Amador, in the Light Fly category and Javier Ibanez, in the Bantam category.

"I knew I was well prepared even though it was my first time fighting in five rounds, apart from one fight in the last National Series," said 19-year-old Ibanez, who achieved a technical knock-out in the fourth round. Ibanez was the youth world champion in 2014 and the gold medal winner in the Nanjing Youth Olympics.

Another two fighters Yasnier Toledo and Arlen Lopez followed into the ring in the Light Welter and Middle categories respectively.

"I didn't go into the fight thinking about what my opponent could do to me. I went in to the ring ready to execute work based on my techniques," Toledo said in beating Turkey's boxer Yakub Sener.

"I attacked and I managed to hit him hard but no fight is easy. Here everyone is measuring up their forces so that they can find the best possible way to the Olympic Games 2016," said Lopez, who defeated Turkey's Evren Tibikoglu.

For the Cubans, the most difficult fight was the last one where Franck Sanchez took on Seyda Keser in the heavyweight category.

With good defense tactics and knowing when to take advantage and dish out jabs, the Cuban was declared the winner.

"I made my debut (in the tournament) against China and now it has become more clear to me that in the five-round fights you need to develop a well-thought strategy. You need to know how to manage your strength and not just throw punches like craze. I have gained experience and I knew that I could beat the Turk," said Sanchez, Cuban national champion in 2015.

Currently Domadores are at the top of their group with China's Dragons and Ukraine's Otamans having a fight in hand that will take place on Saturday.

So far, the Cuban side has won three confrontations and only lost one while the Ukrainian side is currently undefeated after three confrontations, including beating Cuba.

Mexico's Guerreros, The United States' Knockouts, Morocco's Lions and Britain's Lionhearts make up Group B while Russia, Poland's Hussars, Argentina's Condors and Venezuela's Caciques form Group C.

Reigning champions Kazakhstan's Astana Arlans are in Group D along with Azerbaijan's Baku Fires, Puerto Rico's Hurricanes and Uzbekistan's Tigers. Endit