Cuban boxers begin Euro-tour training for Beijing Olympics

HAVANA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Cuban boxing team that qualified for Beijing Olympic Games will begin a training tour through France, England, Turkey and Thailand, Cuban boxing officials stated here on Tuesday.

Cuba's national boxing federation president Jose Barrientos said the boxers from this Caribbean country will travel to France on May to train for two weeks and participate in a tournament from May 20-24.

The Cuban boxers will continue their tour in Britain and later they will participate in a competition in Istanbul, Turkey on June and finish their training on July in Thailand from where they will travel to Beijing to participate in the Olympic Games.

So far nine Cuban boxers have qualified to participate in Beijing-2008, but Cuba will seek tickets for the 48 kg and 81 kg divisions in Guatemala on April 23-30.