By STEPHON NICHOLAS Monday, March 24 2008

CUBA won gold in eight of the nine finals they competed on Tuesday to continue their domination of the first AIBA Americas Olympic Amateur Boxing Qualifiers held at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo.

These Cubans will enter the ring at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with an unbeaten record to their name and gold medals from qualification.

The only flaw on an otherwise perfect night for the Cubans was Flyweight (51kg) Andry Hernandez who was beaten by Dominican Republic’s Juan Carlos Payano 9-5 in a tentative contest.

Both boxers have already booked their ticket by virtue of reaching the finals and appeared wary of being getting injured with the Olympics just three months away.

In the bantamweight (54kg) category, Yankiel Alarcon of Cuba humbled the feisty Oscar Valdez of Mexico 14-5.

Valdez was the aggressor throughout the bout but failed to penetrate the solid guard of the Cuban who countered with telling effect. Alarcon went into the final round with a 9-4 lead and unleashed a powerful right that connected flush on the jaw of Valdez who managed to last the round without hitting the canvas.

And Emilio Bayeux tuned up for the middleweight class at the Beijing Olympics with an impressive performance against Ecuador’s Carlos Mercado who failed to register a point in the four rounds.

The Cuban displayed his nifty and intricate footwork “dancing” away from his rival in his 11-0 victory.

Other results: Javier Molina (USA) def Kevin Mizier (CAN) 20-5, Washington Silva (BRA) def Christopher Downs (USA) 10-3, Jose Luis Ochoa (ECU) def Eduard Bermudez (VEN) 10-7, Idel Torriente (CUB) def Luis Enrique Mina (ECU) 11-6, Yordanis Hernandez (CUB) def Sadam Ali (USA) 13-5, Roniel Sotolongo (CUB) def Jhonny Sanchez (VEN) 9-3, Carlos Suarez (CUB) def John Jackson (ISV) 12-2, Osmai Duarte (CUB) def Deontay Wilder (USA) 12-1, Robert Acea (CUB) def Michael Hunter (USA) 9-1.