18.06.08 – Golden Boy Promotions and Arena Box announced today that a co-promotional agreement has been signed for two of Cuba’s hottest prospects in years, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Yan Barthelemy and 2005 World Amateur Champion Erislandy Lara..
“As an Olympic Gold Medal winner myself, I’m very pleased to add another fellow Olympic Gold Medalist in Yan Barthelemy and a World Amateur Champion in Erislandy Lara to the Golden Boy roster,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “It takes special talent to excel for so many years in the Cuban amateur system and I know that Yan and Erislandy will use that experience to soar through their professional careers.”
“I know that signing this deal with Golden Boy Promotions will help to advance the careers of Barthelemy and Lara,” said Arena Box Promotions CEO, Ahmet Oner. “I am excited to expand our company’s presence here in the United States by working in close partnership with Oscar, Richard Schaefer and the Golden Boy staff. I look forward to a long relationship with all of them.”
Unbeaten in six professional fights, slick southpaw Yan Barthelemy (6-0) has a stellar reputation as one of the top boxers to emerge from Cuba in years. A 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, former World Amateur Champion in the light flyweight division and former Cuban National Boxing Team Captain, the 28 year-old Barthelemy defected from Cuba in 2006 and began his pro career in April of 2007. In his last bout, Barthelemy shut out 38 fight veteran Jose Garcia Bernal.
Three-time consecutive Cuban National Amateur Welterweight Champion, 2005 World Amateur Welterweight Champion and former Cuban National Boxing Team Captain Erislandy Lara is also considered to be one of the best fighters to come out of Cuba in recent memory. He was a leading favorite to win a Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympic Games before defecting from Cuba in order to turn pro and fight internationally.
Barthelemy and Lara’s debuts under the new co-promotional contract between Golden Boy Promotions and Arena Box will be announced at a later date. For more information on Golden Boy fighters, please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.