Recognition for the light heavyweight comes on the back of a phenomenal year thus far, winning the World Series of Boxing (WSB) and a gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

He could add a third consecutive global title to his list of accolades this evening, when he faces Ireland’s Joe Ward at the AIBA World Boxing Championships here. 

Fellow Cuban Rolando Acebal won best WSB coach, while the AIBA best coach award went to Russia’s former Olympic and world champion Aleksander Lebziak.

African Confederation Boxing champion Mohammed Rabii of Morocco was named WSB’s boxer of the year after an undefeated season, which the welterweight will be looking to round off this evening with victory against defending AIBA world champion Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan.

China’s Lu Bin won the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) equivalent, with fellow countryman Tingjiang Dong winning the APB best coach award.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Nicola Adams was crowned female boxer of the year after another memorable 12 months for the London 2012 Olympic champion, during which she won gold at the Baku 2015 European Games.

Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim, President of the Qatar Boxing Federation and executive director of the Local Organising Committee, was also given an award for his hard work in bringing world boxing’s signature event to the Middle East for the first time.

The award was handed over by AIBA President C K Wu after which the roles reversed and Al-Kazim gave out an award to Wu for the guidance and support from AIBA throughout the World Boxing Championships.

"It’s always nice to recognise the fine athletes that grace this wonderful sport, and I found it particularly touching to see an Arab boxer winning one of the most prestigious awards of the night," said Al-Kazim.

"AIBA has done a tremendous job in uniting the global boxing sport, and award ceremonies such as this is a fabulous way to encourage athletes, coaches and technical officials to keep improving and developing."

Among the distinguished guests at the Grand Hyatt Hotel were International Olympic Committee members Yumilka Ruiz Luaces of Cuba and Toni Khoury of Lebanon, as well as Britain’s two-time former world boxing champion Amir Khan, who was given an award for his long-standing contribution to boxing.



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