Cuba - 6 Golds and 2 Silver. Cuba claim six gold, Russia three as the 1st AIBA World Cup Moscow 2008 drew to a close in the Megasport Sport Palace in Moscow, Russia on Sunday. With prize money of $10,000 up for grabs for each champion, and $5,000 for each runner-up it was a healthy pay-day for one of boxing's proudest nations. Cuba's brilliant performance at this AIBA end-of-year event saw the central American country total eight medals with six gold and two silvers from its eight boxers making for a total prize money pool of $70,000. Russia finished second on the medal tally with three gold, a silver and five bronze while Armenia and the Philippines tied for third with one gold apiece. This content is protected Pic: Cuba's Yankiel Leon Alarcon tops the 54kg winner's podium for one of six Cuba champions at the 1st AIBA World Cup Moscow 2008
Alot of the Europeans,particularly Russia didnt field their strongest teams with many guys inexperienced at international level which may explain the Cuban dominance.Still a great performance by them none the less.
Cuba always do great in this kind of tournaments. I will give you the reason. They start very early and never become professionals while other countries lose their teams to professionalism. This cause uneven fight between 20years old or older Cubans with many fights against 15 or 17 years old kids from other countries. Once they escape the country and become professionals very few Cubans becom champions
Quite a few of the world's leading top amateurs didnt participate in that tournament.Thats why some unknown names were able to win some medals.
Quite a few? Maybe 2 or 3. Most Cubans that won gold in Moscow also participated in Beijing, and some got a medal there too. Other boxers that had a medal in Beijing (like the Mongolian) were either so old that Beijing was their last hurrah and will slowly retire, or will turn professional soon. That's why a few guys were absent.
