By Xinhua
Havana : The Cuban boxing team has started preparations for the Olympics by drawing up a short list for a warm-up event Wednesday in Bulgarian city of Strandzha.
Yordenis Ugas, lightweight world champion in 2005, will lead the squad. The squad also includes flyweight silver medallist Andry Laffita and middleweight bronze medallist Emilio Correa.
Other participants include Pan-American Games cruiserweight champions Osmay Acosta and super heavyweight Robert Alfonso; and welterweight Rosniel Iglesias, the junior world champion.
Also on the list are bantamweight Yasniel Toledo, light flyweight Yampier Hernandez, welterweight Carlos Banteur and light heavyweight Yunier Dorticos.
Pedro Roque, the squad’s main trainer said the Bulgarian contest is part of the national team’s preparation for Feb 12 Copa Independencia in the Dominican Republic and Olympic qualifiers in March.
Cuba’s boxers aim to win a place in all 11 divisions, after Cuba skipped the 2007 world championships in Chicago, citing security reasons.
Roque added that being in the first team does not guarantee a place in Cuba’s national team for the Olympics.