Cuba’s Alvarez breaks French hearts to rule lightweight boxing

Gold medallist Erislandy Alvarez of Cuba bites his medal. - REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

CUBA’S Erislandy Alvarez broke the hearts of a delirious French crowd when he beat local favourite Sofiane Oumiha by split decision in the men’s lightweight boxing final at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

Alvarez’s win meant that Cuba’s boxers, who had won just one bronze medal in Paris before Wednesday’s final, avoided their worst performance since the 1968 Olympics in Mexico when they collected only two silvers.