[Hamburg]Arena Box Promotion have signed Erislandy Lara to a promotional contract. The 2005 world amateur champion from Cuba joined his fellow countrymen Odlanier Solis, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Yan Barthelemy in signing with the German based promoter.
Lara had tried to defect from Cuba along with two-time Olympic gold medallist Gulliermo Rigondeaux one year ago but was arrested in Brazil and sent back to Havanna. Now he has finally arrived in Hamburg after leaving Cuba on a speed boat to Mexico were he received a provisional passport on Tuesday.
“It feels great to be in Germany”, said Lara. “I don’t want to talk about the details of my escape. I am just glad to be here and I am looking forward to turning professional and becoming champion of the world.”
“It is better not to talk about the defection itself”, added Ahmet Öner. “We don’t want to endanger anybody. Unfortunately the communist regime in Cuba still puts a lot of pressure to different people. It’s about time that things change in Cuba and that they finally accept and respect Human rights.”
Former welterweight champion Lara will most probably compete in the middleweight division. “This is one of the most exciting and most lucrative divisions in the world”, explained Öner. “I am sure that Lara will be able to compete with the best in the world very soon. He’s an outstanding talent like Gamboa and Solis.”
The 25-year-old will make his pro-debut on July 4 in Istanbul on the undercard of the European heavyweight championship bout between Sinan Samil Sam and Paolo Vidoz and the long awaited clash between Odlanier Solis and Francois Botha.
June 12, 2008
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