- Lazaro Alvarez has +250 odds to win the Men’s Featherweight gold medal.
- Andy Cruz is favored to win the Men’s Lightweight gold medal with +120 odds.
- Arlen Lopez is heavily favored to win the Men’s Light Heavyweight gold medal with -145 odds.
TOKYO — With the Olympics just about to start, many are focused on different boxers that are representing Cuba, as most of them are sitting favored to win Olympic boxing in their respective weight classes.
On online gambling sites, Cuban boxers Andy Cruz and Arlen Lopez are both heavily favored to win the Men’s Lightweight and Men’s Light Heavyweight gold medals.
Looking at the Men’s Featherweight odds, Lazaro Alvarez is a slight underdog with the second shortest odds to win a gold medal as well.
Men’s Light Heavyweight: Arlen Lopez
Light Heavyweight Odds To Win
- Arlen Lopez (CUB) -145
- Bekzad Nurdauletov (KAZ) +150
- Benjamin Whittaker (GBR) +800
- Iman Khataev (ROC) +800
- Loren Alfonso Dominguez (AZE) +900
- Dilshodbek Ruzmetov (UZB) +1300
Arlen Lopez has certainly made a name for himself in the boxing community and it should not be any surprise as to why he is favored to win the gold medal for Cuba. Lopez is currently ranked as the eighth pound for pound fighter in the world amongst amateur boxers.
He also comes into the Olympics with a deep resume that includes six gold medals including the 2016 Olympic games, Boxing World Championships, two at the Pan American Games, and one at each of the Central American and Caribbean Games and World Junior Championships as well.
He holds a professional record of 124-17 with 20 KOs to his name and has never been knocked out in his career.
Men’s Lightweight: Andy Cruz
Lightweight Odds To Win
- Andy Cruz (CUB) +120
- Keyshawn Davis (USA) +700
- Sofiane Oumiha (FRA) +700
- Hovhannes Bachkov (ARM) +800
- Dzmitry Asanau (BLR) +900
- Elnur Abduraimov (UZB) +1600
Andy Cruz is going into the Men’s Lightweight competition heavily favored, as Cruz is the number one ranked light welterweight fighter in the world (108-8) and has never been knocked out in his career either.
Backing up his Olympic boxing odds is that he is a four-time gold medalist as well with two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2015 and 2019 and two more at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in 2017 and 2019. With two of his gold medals coming in the last three two years, there should be extra motivation to get his odds at online sportsbooks before they shift through the tournament.
Men’s Featherweight: Lazaro Alvarez
Featherweight Odds To Win
- Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov (UZB) +225
- Lazaro Alvarez (CUB) +250
- Albert Batyrgaziev (ROC) +600
- Peter McGrail (GBR) +900
- Erdenbatyan Tsendbataar (MGL) +1000
- Kurt Walker (IRL) +1200
Lazaro Alvarez is one of Cuba’s more seasoned boxers with 204 boxing matched to his name and a record of 174-30. He truly is amongst the best of the Cuban boxers making their way to Tokyo.
He has an impressive resume going into the Olympics that includes 12 total medals. Of those medals, eight of them are gold with three coming at each the World Championships and Pan American Games and two more at the Central American & Caribbean Games.
Alvarez does not have an Olympic gold medal under his belt but is looking to capture that elusive win in the 2021 Summer Olympics. That said, his +250 odds could jump out in front as the event goes on.
Other notable Cuban Boxers that bettors could be made aware of are Yosvany Veitia (Flyweight), Julio Cesar La Cruz (Heavyweight), and Roniel Iglesias - all of whom are in top three in their respective weight classes' boxing odds.
Men’s boxing is set to begin on Saturday and will be broadcasted on NBC and the Olympic Channel.