Cuba’s Arlen López Claims Gold in Men’s Light Heavyweight Division at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

He may have changed divisions, but the result was still the same for Arlen López

The 28-year-old Cuban boxer defeated Great Britain’s Benjamin Whittaker to claim boxing gold in the men’s light heavyweight division at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Arlen López

Lopez outclassed the defense-minded Whittaker to win the fight on four of the five judges’ scorecards.

Cuba had never won gold at light heavyweight in its decorated Olympic boxing history until Julio Cesar La Cruz claimed the title at the 2016 Rio Games.

Lopez is the second Cuban boxer in two days to win a second gold medal in a different weight class by beating a British fighter after Roniel Iglesias achieved the same feat Tuesday.

Lopez previously won the middleweight division at the 2016 Rio Games.

Cuban-born Loren Alfonso of Azerbaijan won the light heavyweight bronze medals after losing to Lopez in the semifinals.

Russian athlete Imam Khataev claimed the second gold.