The decision was made at the Annual Executive Committee meeting of the
American Boxing Confederation held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on the weekend
and was confirmed by national commissioner Alberto Puig, member of the board.

La Cruz made it to the top of the Baku World Amateur Boxing Championships,
and a few days later became Pan American champion in the Mexican city of
Guadalajara this year.

He also topped the podium at the pre-Pan American games in Cordova Cardin
and Batalla de Carabobo, at the 4th ALBA Games and was third at the
Bocskai Memorial tournament and the Strandcha classic.

Classified for the London Olympic Games, La Cruz is considered among the
favorites for the event.

Other Cubans previously recognized as top boxers of the Americas were
light welterweight Roniel Iglesias and flyweight Robeisis Ramirez.