Cuban lightweight boxer Erislandy Álvarez defeated France’s Sofiane Oumiha 3-2 in the Roland Garros ring to win the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It was a revenge fight for the West Indian after losing to his rival in the final of the World Championships in Tashkent 2023 and the most important of his life, to give the delegation of his country the second golden metal in this summer event and the only one he could achieve in the sport of fists.

Alvarez, 24, showed his champion’s pedigree in a hard-fought bout against an opponent who, in addition to home advantage, came into the ring with a record that includes an Olympic silver medal and three titles in world tournaments.

This is the 80th medal won by fighters from the largest Caribbean island in the history of the Olympics and the 42nd gold medal, second only to fighters from the United States.

The bronze medals in the up to 63.5 kilogram division went to the chests of Georgia’s Lasha Guruli and Canada’s Wyatt Sanford.