UWW Minute

UWW Minute: Cuba's Ismael Borrero

Tuesday, April 21, 2020 - 15:59 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 21) -- Olympic champion and two-time world champion Ismael Borrero has had a newsworthy few months.

The Cuban Greco-Roman star won the Pan Am Championships March 6th, which earned him valuable Ranking Series points and secured him the top seed at 67kg for Tokyo 2021. The Cuban ,who won the 2016 Games at 59kg, talked about the importance of concentration no matter the level of the competition.

"Sometimes there are lesser opponents, but it's never easy. You have to compete hard every time," said Borrero. "I hope for victory and channel everything I feel inside to action on the mat."

In April, Borrero announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. He was largely asymptomatic and has since recovered. The defending world champion is now testing negative and is back at home.

"My success, my career are built on faith, courage, and perseverance," he said. "Always those things."

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Live Blog: Day 7 GR 60kg, 72kg, 97kg

Friday, September 19, 2025 - 08:37 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 19) -- The World Championships day seven will see three Greco-Roman weight classes -- 60kg, 72kg and 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

11:25: Olympic bronze medalist and 2023 world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) picks up a quick 4 against Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE), then uses his speed to get behind for two takedowns to advance at 97kg with an 8-0 victory in 2:17.

11:24: Asian champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) gives up a quick stepout to Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), but responds with one himself. Put on top in par terre, Sohrabi wastes no time, firing off four rolls for a 10-1 win in just over two minutes at 72kg.

11:24: Host Croatia loses its presence in a span of minutes, when Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO) falls 4-1 to Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) at 72kg on Mat C, and shortly after on Mat B, NITESH (IND) gets a late gut wrench to oust Filip SMETKO (CRO) 3-2 at 97kg.

11:17: Two-time Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), searching for his first world medal, begins with an 8-0 superiority win over Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) at 72kg.

11:08: European champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) bulls his way to three stepouts in the second period and a 4-0 victory over Alejandro SANCHO (USA) at 72kg.

11:08: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), winner of the Ranking Series events in Budapest and Tirana, gets the first chance in par terre against  two-time world bronze medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg, but his roll is annulled on challenge for a leg foul. Can fares much better when he gets the chance, throwing Lomadze for 2 and holding on for a 3-1 win.

11:00: Not to be for Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) at 72kg. The Japanese was trying to win a medal in Greco-Roman, two years after he won the world gold medal in Freestyle 70kg. But Michael PORTMANN (SUI), he drops his opening bout 2-1. Portmann scored a stepout apart from the par terre points.  

10:30: The World Championships will continue with Greco-Roman with 60kg, 72kg and 97kg in Zagreb