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	*NEWS*

Cuban fighters hit gold mine in ring

By Kevin Stevens SportsTicker Contributing Editor SYDNEY, Australia (Ticker) -- Heavyweight Felix Savon led a Cuban gold rush with four of the country's fighters pounding their way to titles in the Olympic boxing ring. Every Cuban who entered the ring at the Sydney Entertainment Center on Saturday (Friday night in the United States) left with gold around their necks, three of those medals coming at the expense of Russian opposition. Savon capped off a productive afternoon by easily disposing of Russia's Sultanahmed Ibzagimov, 21-13, as he equaled legendary compatriot Teofilo Stevenson's record of three consecutive Olympic titles. Right from the opening bell, the 6-6 Savon took control and never appeared threatened. But with just 14 seconds left in the final round, the Cuban corner received a scare when Ibzagimov opened a deep cut under the six-time world champion's left eye. After being examined carefully, the referee allowed the bout to continue and Savon kept a safe distance from the Russian for the final seconds. "I'm really happy," Savon said. "I dedicate this to the people of Cuba." Bantamweight Guillermo Rigondeaux, lightweight Mario Kindelan and middleweight Jorge Gutierrez also contributed to the Cuban gold medal haul. Cuban fighters also took home a pair of bronze medals. Kindelan was the only Cuban not to face a Russian in his title bout, easily outpointing Ukrainian Andrei Kotelnik, 14-4. The Cuban world champion began slowly probing Kotelnik's defense for weaknesses, taking a 2-0 lead. In the second and third rounds, the cagey Kindelan jumped in and capitalized on openings when the Ukrainian would drop his guard, then retreat to safety. "It's my dream to be an Olympic champion," Kindelan said. "I've been waiting for this for many years." Rigondeaux, the 1995 and 1997 bantamweight world champion, trailed early in his bout but came back to record a workmanlike 18-12 win over Russia's Raimkoul Malakhbekov. Down 7-6 after the second round, Rigondeaux used his jab to great effect in the third round, pulling in front, 11-9. He scored in furries in the fourth round. Russia finished the day with one gold as welterweight Oleg Saitov successfully defended his Olympic title with a 24-16 win over Ukrainian Sergei Dotsenko. The day began with light flyweight Brahim Asloum giving France its first Olympic boxing gold in 64 years, pounding out a convincing 23-10 win over Spaniard Rafael Lozano. Asloum, who has only been boxing for five years, never trailed. He opened cautiously, taking a 4-3 lead after the first round, then picked up the tempo in the second. He led 17-7 after three rounds and became the first French Olympic champion since middleweight Jean Despeaux and light heavyweight Roger Michelot stood on top of the podium at the 1936 Berlin Games.