Three Cuban boxers defect to the USA

Three top Cuban boxers, including reigning Olympic heavyweight champion Odlanier Solis, have defected and are about to start professional careers.

Solis, who won the heavyweight gold medal in Athens, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Yan Barthelemy, who also won Olympic gold in 2004, defected to the USA earlier this month.

They announced at a press conference at Miami's David's Cafe in South Beach, that they would pursue their professional boxing careers under the tutelage of Florida-based attorney and manager Tony Gonzalez and German promotional companies, Arena Box Promotion and First Artist.

Solis is also a two-time Pan American Games champion and three-time world amateur champion.

Super bantamweight Gamboa was World Cup gold medallist last year, and flyweight Barthelemy is a former world amateur champion.

The fighters agreed in unison that a defection was necessary to pursue their professional dreams.

It is the first time a Cuban Olympic gold medal heavyweight, considered a vital sportsman in his country, had made the decision to leave the national team and fight professionally.

"After winning every major amateur title, I knew that I only had one last challenge, and that was becoming (professional) heavyweight champion of the world," said Solis.

"I feel a loss leaving my country but I am ready to turn professional and work towards obtaining that goal," Solis declared.

Solis and Barthelemy are both natives from Havana, while Gamboa is originally from Guantanamo, Cuba.

The trio should be making their pro debuts on April 13 in Miami against opponents to be decided.