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Updated at 7:03 a.m., Friday, August 3, 2007

Pan Am Games: Boxers who disappeared found at resort

Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Two Cuban boxers who disappeared during last month's Pan American Games were found at a resort near Rio, where police say they partied and ran up an exorbitant tab.

Now, a police inspector says, they want to go back to Cuba.

Two-time Olympic boxing champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and Erislandy Lara were found Thursday at an inn in the coastal resort city Cabo Frio.

"We still have to clear up the reason why they abandoned their delegation and now want to return," federal police inspector Felicio Laterca said. "Right now, they are only saying they are very dear athletes in their country and that's why they want to return."

The 25-year-old Rigondeaux failed to attend the weigh-in for his bantamweight bout against Carlos Cuadras of Mexico. Lara, 24, did not show for his welterweight fight against Ricardo Smith of Jamaica. Rigondeaux and Lara were disqualified and their opponents advanced to the semifinals.

The two boxers also said they had been contacted by a German businessman, and they gave their uniforms and passports to him. Last month, German boxing promoters Arena said it had signed Lara and Rigondeaux to five-year contracts. Details of that deal are not clear.

Police said the pair had declined representation from lawyers apparently sent by the German businessman.

"We planned to sign them. If the contracts are signed or not, only Ahmet Oner can tell you," Arena spokesman Thomas Nuenzig said, referring to the company's owner.

Cuban President Fidel Castro blamed American money for their defection, saying the boxers were "knocked down with a blow straight to the chin, paid up with U.S. bills."

Laterca said the two boxers were staying at a hotel and remained at liberty, but were being monitored by police. Police had contacted the Cuban embassy to secure passports for the two men.

No one at the Cuban embassy was immediately available to comment.

Since the 2004 Olympics, Cuban boxing has been beset by defections, with several champions now fighting professionally in the United States and Europe.

Rigondeaux won the Olympic gold medal in 2000 and '04 and is also a world champion. He became Cuba's top boxer after the retirement of Mario Kindelan in 2004 and was looking for his third Pan Ams title.