Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa won the men's 51kg boxing title with a comfortable victory over French Jerome Thomas 38-23 at the Athens Olympic Games on Saturday.

Gamboa, a debutant, made an intelligent and intense fight against the Frenchman, the world champion in Belfast and bronze-medalist in the Sydney Olympic Games.

Other finals featuring the Cubans are the 64kg category between Yudel Johnson and Thailand's Boonjumnong, and the 90kg bout between Odlanier Solis and Belarussian Viktar Zuyev.

Finals on Sunday will also witness Cubans Yan Barhelemi (48kg), Lorenzo Rigondeaux (54), Mario Kindelan (60) and Lorenzo Aragon (69).

Boxing is the sport that has awarded most medals to the Cubans in the Olympic Games.

In Athens, Cuba aims to finish among the top 10 in the medal table.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2004)