• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 08 / 27 / 2010

---

Heavyweight Lenier makes it three golds out of three for his country.

SINGAPORE - Lenier Eunice Pero entered the ring with only one colour on his mind: Gold.

The reigning world youth champion from Cuba went after Italy's Fabio Turchi last night as if he wanted to finish off the heavyweight boxing final of the Youth Olympic Games in record time at the International Convention Centre at Suntec City.

And he did.

Delivering a flurry of punches, he left Fabio leaning on the ropes dazed, as the Italian bled from the nose barely 90 seconds into the contest, giving the referee no choice but to stop the fight.

The duration of the fight was a record for the Games and the second time a Lenier fight had to be stopped by the referee.

In the preliminary rounds on Saturday, the 17-year-old disposed of Joshua Temple of the United States after 2min and 11sec of the first round.

Lenier's win meant the greatest boxing nation in Olympic history kept up the tradition at the Youth Games, with all three of Cuba's boxers returning home with a gold medal each.

Earlier in the afternoon, Robeisy Eloy Ramirez put away India's Shiva Thapa 5-2 on points in the bantamweight final, while light-heavyweight Irosvani Duverger made light work of Turkey's Aksin Burak to easily win his final on points (12-4).

"Cuba have the strongest boxing school in the world," said Lenier, after his win. "We also have the best coaches and training methods, and they have helped us to become the best in the world."

Blessed with power and super-quick hands, Lenier has already set his sights on gold at the 2012 Olympics in London.

"I am already in the national squad and my goal is to become an Olympic champion in London," he said.

"We will start preparing soon after we return and, for sure, Cuba will be top when we get to England."

As for the secret to moulding Olympic boxing champions, the newly crowned Youth Olympic Games heavyweight champion laughed, and said: "No magic. We just train very hard and keep the focus in and out of the ring."

By Ian De Cotta

Source: www.todayonline.com/