Who are the undefeated emerging Cuban fighters you should be aware of?
This is a good question to ask as Cuban 2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz fights IBF lightweight beltholder Raymond Muratalla on Saturday at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
Cruz is the next wave of top Cuban amateurs who are turning pro. Traditionally, Cuban fighters would get ridiculed (often unfairly) for having a patient, methodical style. Former beltholder Guillermo Rigondeaux was labeled boring by some while being one of the best fighters in the world. The modern influx of Cuban fighters has shown the craft and discipline of previous generations, but starting with super middleweight David Morrell, this era has been much more violent and action-oriented, weaponizing their talents offensively.
Boxing fans know WBA middleweight titleholder Erislandy Lara, the aforementioned Morrell, and even Robesiy Ramirez. Here are a few others Cuban fighters you may want to get to know:
10. Jadier Herrera
Record: 17-0 (15 KOs)
Herrera just won the WBC interim lightweight title against Ricardo Nunez. That said, the lightweight Herrera looks to fight on the outside and relies on his power at times. It is hard to gauge his ceiling, but he doesn’t have the same fluidity seen in other Cuban prospects, as of now, with some clear lapses in defense.
9. Kevin Brown
Record: 9-0 (3 KOs)
Brown, a junior welterweight, has moved into the top billing for BoxLab Promotions cards in Orlando, Florida, but he has suffered some bumps in the road. Though he has not suffered a loss, he was dropped by Idalberto Umara en route to a split decision victory. He returned with a notable win over John Bauza and has shown improvement in his last two fights.
8. Lazaro Alvarez
Record:10-0 (5 KOs)
One of the best recent Cuban amateurs, Alvarez, a lightweight, went pro in 2022 and is currently 34. As an amateur, he competed at three Olympic Games from 2012-2020, earning a bronze at the 2016 Games. Alvarez is worthy of attention for his achievements as an amateur, even if his pro career is happening in the twilight.
7. Erislandy Alvarez
Record: 6-0 (2 KOs)
A 2024 Olympic gold medalist, Alvarez offers a lot of promise as a fighter who moves quickly in the junior welterweight division and could contend for a belt sooner rather than later. Alvarez has no notable wins so far, but has fought in three bouts scheduled for 10 rounds, going 34 rounds as a pro in his young career. He is fundamentally sound, but also doesn’t have any remarkable trait that stands out besides his keen fundamentals and good focus when in the ring.
6. Arlen Lopez
Record: 6-0 (2 KOs)
One of the best Cuban amateurs ever, the 32-year-old Lopez has now been pro since 2022, but he might be a story of what could have been. Lopez won gold at the 2016 Olympics in middleweight and the 2020 Olympics at light heavyweight. In 2024, he earned a bronze medal after falling to Ukrainian volume puncher Oleksandr Khyzhniak in the semifinals. Lopez can fight on the inside and the outside. Hopefully, we see him in a world-class boxing bout in 2026. Who knows how much he will have left as a pro. He is fighting in a rather shallow light heavyweight division that could get even thinner if Artur Beterbiev retires in the next year or two.
5. Ronny Alvarez
Record: 5-0 (4 KOs)
Some of the great modern super middleweights are coming from Cuba, and Alvarez is yet another example. Alvarez is scheduled to fight on the undercard of Muratalla-Cruz against Daine Smikle, an unbeaten fighter. Alvarez is a devastating boxer-puncher who is doing what you want to see from young fighters in developmental fights. He is separating himself from the competition. Alvarez could be a breakout guy in 2026, especially starting in January. If he stays active, he will be an emerging name this year.
4. Yoenli Hernandez
Record: 9-0 (8 KOs)
A devastating middleweight contender who won a 10-round unanimous decision over Kyrone Davis last year. Hernandez's best attribute is size and brute force. He can box, but he shows his opponents that boxing is just as much a physical sport as it is a talent. Hernandez is not your typical Cuban boxer, as he is a pressure fighter, rather than a fluid boxer-puncher. Hernandez is ranked No.2 by the WBC, which should lead to fights against the top names soon.
3. Dainier Pero
Record: 11-0 (8 KOs)
As exciting a heavyweight prospect as we have. Pero has been compared to Oleksandr Usyk by his trainer, Bob Santos. Pero is a craftsman, but also a showman. He can box, but he also looks for the stoppage. Pero fought only once in 2025, getting dropped twice in that fight. Pero won on Saturday, stopping veteran Mario Aguilar in two rounds.
2. Andy Cruz
Record: 6-0 (3 KOs)
Cruz has been better than expected, and he might have been the best boxer to compete at the 2020 Olympics. Cruz isn’t quite fighting for a title at the speed of Vasiliy Lomachenko, but he isn’t that far off. He faces Muratalla in a title fight in his seventh pro bout, and enters as a slight betting favorite against the titleholder. Cruz has brilliant timing, distance control, and reflexes. Now we just have to see how he does against the very best.
1. Osleys Iglesias
Record: 14-0 (13 KOs)
It would not be shocking if Iglesias becomes one of the 10 best fighters in the world in the next two to three years. He has outclassed world-class opposition and is on an eight-fight knockout streak dating back to 2022. Iglesias is tactical, but violent. He uses his Cuban pedigree to step up his shots, but is patient when inflicting damage. Without overselling it, Iglesias is looking the part of one of the best fighters in the sport, period. The interim IBF super middleweight titleholder, who is currently awaiting a challenger to fight for the outright title after Terence Crawford retired and vacated the belt. 2026 should be a big year for Iglesias.
