Cuban Olympic boxing champ flees to the U.S.

Cuban two-time world boxing champion in the bantamweight category Guillermo Rigondeaux has run away from his native land to Miami.

It is reported that he is preparing to start a professional career together with other members of Cuba’s national Olympic team (Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis and Erislandy Lara), who managed to escape earlier. No details of his getaway have gone public.

Less than two years ago Rigondeaux and Lara tried to run away during the Pan-American Games in Brazil in 2007 but both “deserters” were apprehended by Brazilian police and extradited back to Cuba.

As a result the Cuban leadership chose not to participate in the World Championship in Chicago the same year. Needless to say, Rigondeaux and Lara were excluded from the national team.

However, the sportsmen have escaped under the wing of German promoter Ahmet Öner, who confirmed on Fightnews.com that Guillermo Rigondeaux is currently in Miami preparing to start training with Gamboa, Solis and Lara under Öner’s supervision.

Ahmet Öner, CEO of Miami’s Arena Box, has promised to make an official announcement on Guillermo Rigondeaux’s training and answer all questions at a press conference next week.