Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez set Cuba on the gold medal trail, beating Mexico's Joselito Velasquez at light flyweight, and although the momentum was immediately halted by compatriot Yosbany Veitia’s defeat to home favourite Yoel Finol in the flyweight final, World Series of Boxing (WSB) star Andy Cruz soon got the Caribbean nation back on track with victory against the Dominican Republic’s Héctor Luis Garcia at bantamweight.

A gold medal for International Boxing Association (AIBA) Pro Boxing (APB) fighter Robson Donato Conceição of Brazil came at lightweight against Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez, whose fellow countrymen, including Cuba Domadores team mates Erislandy Savon and London 2012 Olympic champion Roniel Iglesias, went on to win five of the six remaining bouts.

Heavyweight Savon and welterweight Iglesias both overcame Argentineans - Yamil Alberto Peralta and Alberto Ignacio Palmetta respectively - while there were also wins for fellow Cubans; light welterweight Yasnier Toledo, middleweight Arlen Lopez and super heavyweight Leinier Pero.

Puerto Rico’s Danielito Zorrilla had to settle for silver at light welterweight, while Ecuador’s Marlo Delgado and Venezuela’s Edgar Ramon Munoz were the middleweight and super heavyweight runners-up.

Venezuela’s second gold medal was won by Albert Ramirez, also a WSB competitor, at light heavyweight as he outperformed Cuba team captain Julio Cesar La Cruz.  

"I find experience in WSB very useful as I didn’t have the same preparation before comparing to my current condition," said Ramirez.

As many as 28 boxers who competed in Season V of the WSB won medals across the 10 weight categories, while a smaller contingent of fighters from APB also performed strongly.

The medal tallies from both the WSB and APB boxers was made all the more impressive considering they all had to revert to a three-round format having competed in eight-round and five-round AIBA matches.

"Boxing fans enjoyed the chance to see some of the 2015 Pan American Games champions in action again so soon after success in Toronto, and as well as big names from nations like Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil, the rising pool of talent from less traditional boxing nations shows the strength of the American Confederation, and world boxing as a whole," said AMBC President Osvaldo Bisbal.

A total of 20 nations registered to take part in Vargas, where more than 100 of the best boxers on the continent battled for gold.

The event also served as a qualification event for this October’s AIBA World Boxing Championships in Doha, with the top five boxers from each weight class achieving a quota.

"The AIBA Confederation Boxing Championships give millions of sports fans around the globe the chance to witness the greatest boxers from five continents in August and September this year," said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.

"It is also a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of the future world champions in Doha.

"I was really excited to see Vargas host the American Boxing Confederation Championships where the prize is a chance to compete at the biggest event in the 2015 boxing calendar, October’s AIBA World Boxing Championships.

"After a hugely successful group draw of the World Series of Boxing, this shows the growing interest in boxing in Venezuela."



Related stories
August 2015: Cuba to be represented in every final after memorable day at AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships
August 2015: Mexico's Toronto 2015 gold medallist books semi-final spot at AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships
August 2015: Five Cuban boxers guarantee American Confederation Boxing Championships medals with victories
August 2015: Canadian Toronto 2015 champion progresses to next round of AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships with split decision victory
August 2015: De Los Santos begins AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships in style with victory over World Series of Boxing star