Both won their respective fights at the “Fists of Fury” event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, on the night of August 23.
Many consider it a historic event that two 19-year-olds each make their professional boxing debut in 10-round fights with titles at stake.
Andrey (1-0, 1 KO) defeated the experienced Colombian Wilner Soto (24-17, 13 KOs) by KO in the fourth round and Ari defeated the Mexican Adrian Ibarra (7-3, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision in 10 rounds.
Both won regional titles of the Association and the World Boxing Council.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” De Cubas Sr. said. “I debuted Guillermo Rigondeaux, with 400 amateur fights and two Olympic titles, at the Fountainebleau Hotel in a six-round fight on a night that included Roberto Duran and Jake Lamota. And these guys were thrown in for a 10-round fight.”
De Cubas compared Ari to the legendary Mexican champion Salvador Sánchez.
“I was in the 10th round and I was still fighting with my mouth shut, as if I had just started,” De Cubas Sr. said. “I could have fought five more rounds. I looked like Sanchez, who was nicknamed ‘Mr. Lung.’”
Among the champions that De Cubas Sr. has had are “Mano de Piedra”, Wilfredo Gómez, Eusebio Pedroza, Joel Casamayor, Erislandy Lara, Yuriorkis Gamboa and many more.
For his part, Bonilla coach Zamir Lozano agreed with the comparison made by De Cubas Sr. between his pupils and Sánchez.
“These guys have a similar style, the way they move around the ring and how they hold their own,” said Lozano. “We are left with a good taste in our mouths, because we made history. No one had ever made their debut in professional boxing and won titles. Ari and Andrey did it twice.”
Bonilla’s entire team was so happy with the triumphant debut that they stayed in Miami until Thursday, August 29, and next Monday they will begin their preparation in El Paso, Texas, at Lozano’s gym, with a view to the commitment in October at the Seminole Hard Rock.
Lozano said his work plan includes going to New Mexico two or three times to work in the mountains at more than 9,810 feet above sea level.
“That’s so the boys have more oxygen, more resistance,” Lozano explained. “With that preparation we had no fear in scheduling them for their debut in 10 rounds, because we knew they would hold out and that’s what happened.”
De Cubas Sr. was surprised by what the twins revealed to him after the evening at the Seminole.
“They both told me that when Zamir announced they would fight 10 rounds, they said it was the best gift they could give him,” said de Cubas Sr. “It’s a special story. They have been fighting since they were five years old. You can see them on YouTube. They are born warriors.”
De Cubas Sr.’s eyes filled with joy as soon as the bell rang. He describes them as tough, strong, they know how to box, have good footwork and are very intelligent.
Lozano, who worked under Edy Reynoso on the team of trainers of the great Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez, says that the goal of the twins is the world title and what happened last Friday is just the first step.
Results at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida
(August 23, 2024)
The fights were organized as part of the “Fists of Fury” series that the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has established among fans. A new event will be held in October, with most of the winners from the August 23 edition being the main event participants.
Yosdiel Nápoles defeated Frank Zaldivar by unanimous decision, lightweight, 10 rounds
Andrey Bonilla defeated Wilner Soto by technical knockout in the fourth round, bantamweight, 10 rounds
Ari Bonilla defeated Adrian Ibarra, super flyweight, by unanimous decision, 10 rounds
Maureen Shea lost by split decision to Perla Lomeli, super bantamweight, 8 rounds
Kevin Castillo lost by unanimous decision to Alexy de la Cruz, lightweight, 6 rounds
Montaser Aboughaly defeated David Michel Paz, welterweight, by unanimous decision, 4 rounds
Esteban Mussio won by TKO in the second round against Damian David Marchiano, welterweight, 4 rounds
