Alexis Rubalcaba

Chopping Right · Post by **Chopping Right** » 29 May 2005, 16:45

For a Cuban super-heavy who attended 2 Olympics and several World Championships this guy never achieved much. Why was that, and why did the Cubans keep persevering with him for so long? Whenever I saw him fight he looked a monstrous proposition, 6' 8" and a sledgehammer puncher but he could be outpointed by much smaller guys, something other tall Cubans didn't have a problem with. I think I read somewhere he was eventually asked to stand down from the Cuban national events because he would not be considered for any more international events. Surprised the amateur set-up in Cuba couldn't do more with that kind of raw material.

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 30 May 2005, 17:39

Alexis Rubalcaba isn't the smartest guy around. He is very strong though and could take anyone out if connecting cleanly, specially with his right hand. Holds KO victories over Paolo Vidoz, Cengiz Koc and Alexei Lezin, among others. Has also stopped cubans Michel Lopez and Pedro Carrion but was mostly outboxed when he met those guys.
Maybe Carrion could've done better at the Sydney Olympics but he'd hardly won the gold.
Unfortunately since the death of Roberto Balado the cubans haven't come up with anyone his class.

Chopping Right · Post by **Chopping Right** » 30 May 2005, 17:45

Who is the top Cuban super-heavy these days? Who did they have at Athens last year?

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 30 May 2005, 22:35

Michel Lopez won a bronze medal in Athens. He took revenge from Jason Estrada, USA who beat him in the Pan Am final 2003, but then Lopez lost in a shocking defeat to an egyptian in the semi. It was a controversial deciosion but Lopez is very unstable. He holds a victory over Wladimir Klitschko at the World Juniors in 1994.

Now Odlanier Solis is up at super heavy and is expected to be Cubas man in the division but he lost to Michel Lopez earlier this year.

Chopping Right · Post by **Chopping Right** » 31 May 2005, 08:04

locoxelbox wrote:Michel Lopez won a bronze medal in Athens. He took revenge from Jason Estrada, USA who beat him in the Pan Am final 2003, but then Lopez lost in a shocking defeat to an egyptian in the semi. It was a controversial deciosion but Lopez is very unstable. He holds a victory over Wladimir Klitschko at the World Juniors in 1994.

Now Odlanier Solis is up at super heavy and is expected to be Cubas man in the division but he lost to Michel Lopez earlier this year.

Where does Pedro Carrion fit in, is he at heavy or super-heavy?

Back to Rubalcaba, I wonder if he might have had more success in the professional ranks where his massive size and power could have been better utilised and his lack of boxing skills might not have been such a problem. Visually he always reminded me of American pro Lance "Mount" Whitaker.

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 31 May 2005, 10:46

Pedro Carrion is a super heavy but I don't think he fights anymore. He was a silver medallist at the 2003 Worlds, losing a controversial decision to russian Alexander Povertkin in the final.

Rubalcaba would make some money as a pro, maybe winning some belt but his poor boxing ability would stop him from being a star.

Chopping Right · Post by **Chopping Right** » 31 May 2005, 11:30

locoxelbox wrote:Rubalcaba would make some money as a pro, maybe winning some belt but his poor boxing ability would stop him from being a star.

This is all theoretical now though, I assume Alexis must be a fair age these days?

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 31 May 2005, 11:50

Yes, he's retired since the 2000 Sydney Olympics

Chopping Right · Post by **Chopping Right** » 31 May 2005, 12:17

locoxelbox wrote:Yes, he's retired since the 2000 Sydney Olympics

Damn, we could have had another Jorge Luis Gonzalez on our hands