YAN Barthelemy and Erislandy Lara, two star Cuban boxers who recently defected from their Communist nation, have agreed to co-promotion deals with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

“It takes special talent to excel for so many years in the Cuban amateur system,” said De La Hoya, a US gold medalist in 1992.

“I know that Yan and Erislandy will use that experience to soar through their professional careers.”

Barthelemy (6-0), a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, defected in 2006 and signed with Germany’s Arena Box Promotions along with fellow Cuban Olympic champions Odlanier Solis and Yuriorkis Gamboa.

Barthelemy, whose last bout was an impressive victory over Jose Garcia Bernal, is scheduled to fight next in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on June 27. — Sapa-AP