Posted on Fri, Aug. 03, 2007
BY MICHAEL ASTOR
Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO --
Police found two Cuban boxers who went missing during last month's Pan
American Games, authorities said Friday.
Erislandy Lara, 24, and two-time Olympic boxing champion Guillermo
Rigondeaux, 25, were found Thursday at an inn in Cabo Frio, a resort
city east of Rio. Local police said the pair had wracked up an
exorbitant tab and were seen frequently partying in the company of women.
The two boxers want to now return to Cuba, according to federal police
inspector Felicio Laterca.
''We still have to clear up the reason why they abandoned their
delegation and now want to return,'' Laterca said. ``Right now, they are
only saying they are very dear athletes in their country and that's why
they want to return.''
Rigondeaux failed to attend the weigh-in for his bantamweight bout
against Carlos Cuadras of Mexico, while Lara did not show for his
welterweight fight against Ricardo Smith of Jamaica.
Both Rigondeaux and Lara were disqualified and their opponents advanced
to the semifinals.
The two boxers also said they had been contacted by a German businessman
to whom they gave their uniforms and passports.
Last month, German cable station Arena TV said that it had signed Lara
and Rigondeaux to five-year contracts. The details of that deal are not
clear.
Cuban President Fidel Castro blamed American money for their defection,
saying the boxers were ``knocked down with a blow straight to the chin,
paid up with U.S. bills.''
Laterca said the two boxers were staying at a hotel and remained at
liberty but were being monitored by police. Police had contacted the
Cuban Embassy to secure passports for the two men.
No one at the Cuban Embassy was immediately available to comment on the
case.
Since the 2004 Olympics, the Cuban boxing program has been hit hard by
defections, with several champions now fighting professionally in the
United States and Europe.
Rigondeaux won Olympic gold in 2000 and '04 and is also a world
champion. He became Cuba's top boxer after the retirement of Mario
Kindelan in 2004, and was looking for his third Pan Ams title.
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