“I’m very
happy because this award recognizes my personal results and also our
country,” Iglesias told Radio Rebelde after learning of the
election, which was confirmed by Bienvenido Solano, President of the
continental confederation of amateur boxing.
“This award is an incentive to achieve better results in the
future,” said the only Cuban champion in Milan last September.
In 2009, Iglesias also won the Pan American Championship in Mexico,
the Bocskai and Strandzha Tournaments in Hungary and Bulgaria,
respectively, and the Batalla de Carabobo Tournament, in Venezuela.
The other candidates for the 2009 Best Boxer of the Americas Award
were world champion Puerto Rican McWilliam Arroyo, Mexican Oscar
Valdez and Ecuadorian Carlos Gongora.
The awarding ceremony will take place in February during the Pan
American Youth Boxing Championship in the Dominican Republic.
Argentinean Paola Benavides was selected as the best female boxer of
2009.
