Cuba leads the way as first boxers qualify for Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Caribbean nation with rich history in Olympic boxing wins five of the 17 places available through WSB rankings
Yosbany Veitia Soto (right) is likely to be a strong medal contender at the Rio 2016 Games (WSB)
Boxing is the latest sport to see athletes win places at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with 17 berths awarded as the regular season of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) came to an end. Cuba, that traditional powerhouse of Olympic boxing, was the most successful nation, claiming five spots, while Russia won three places and Ireland took two. The other seven slots were won by boxers from Azerbaijan, Croatia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco and Puerto Rico (see detailed list below).
The flyweight (-52kg) division was topped by unbeaten Cuban Yosbany Veitia Soto, who is eager to improve on his performance at the London 2012 Games, when he was defeated in the second round. “Everybody wants to be an Olympic Champion,” he said. “I didn’t manage to reach the podium in London, so I am very ambitious to do well in Rio. I’m more mature, more motivated and more confident. I believe it will be a great Olympic tournament for Cuba.”
Russia won the most medals (six) at London 2012, while Irish boxers climbed onto the podium four times in the British capital. One of those medals was won by Paddy Barnes, who took bronze, as he had done four years earlier in Beijing. “I’m tired of the kids on the street calling me ‘Paddy Bronze’, so it’s time to get that gold,” he said, after topping the rankings in the light flyweight (46-49kg) division.
Paddy Barnes (left) lost to China's Zou Shiming in the semi-finals at the London 2012 Games (Photo: Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
The top two ranked boxers in each class (except the light flyweight, heavyweight and super heavyweight categories) earned places at Rio 2016. A total of 250 boxers will compete in the men’s tournament in Rio, with the majority of the other 233 places being awarded via the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) rankings and various tournaments. Brazil will have five places guaranteed as host nation, and there will be five invitations.
36 women boxers will compete in three weight categories at Rio 2016, with 32 qualification places up for grabs, one spot reserved for Brazil and three invitations.
Qualifiers for Rio 2016 Olympic Games at end of 2014/2014 WSB season:
Light Flyweight (46-49kg) Paddy Barnes (Ireland)
Flyweight (-52kg) Yosbany Veitia Soto (Cuba) and Jeyvier Jesus Cintron Ocasio (Puerto Rico)
Bantamweight (-56kg) Vladimir Nikitin (Russia) and Michael John Conlan (Ireland)
Lightweight (-60kg) Lazaro Jorge Alvarez Estrada (Cuba) and Albert Selimov (Azerbaijan)
Light Welterweight (-64kg) Yasnier Toledo Lopez (Cuba) and Raul Curiel Garcia (Mexico)
Welterweight (-69kg) Mohammed Rabii (Morocco) and Radzhab Butaev (Russia)
Middleweight (-75kg) Petr Khamukov (Russia) and Arlen Lopez Cardona (Cuba)
Light Heavyweight (-81kg) Mandfredonia Valentino (Italy) and Julio Cesar La Cruz Peraza (Cuba)
Heavyweight (-91kg) Vassiliy Levit (Kazakhstan)
Super Heavyweight (91kg+) Filip Hrgovic (Croatia)
Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.
