Nicaraguan boxer disqualified for biting Dominican rival in Santo Domingo 2026

SANTO DOMINGO.– Nicaraguan boxer Andy Javier Caballero was disqualified this Sunday from the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 competitions, after biting Dominican Miguel Ángel Encarnación during a 65-kilogram category bout.

You might be interested in:Athletics and wrestling boost the Dominican Republic on the eighth day of Santo Domingo 2026

The preliminary fight was underway with intense exchanges of blows and a high level of competitiveness when the incident occurred. Caballero had previously received a standing count and, following an offensive by Encarnación that caused a nosebleed, both boxers became entangled in a clinch.

In the midst of the struggle, the Dominican claimed to have been bitten by his opponent. The referee immediately stopped the fight and, after checking Encarnación’s neck, confirmed that it showed an injury with scratches and bleeding, so he proceeded to disqualify the Nicaraguan fighter and award the victory to the Dominican representative.

In other results of the 65-kilogram division, Christofer Filos Vargas defeated the Honduran Gabriel Txmari Fortin Pérez by technical superiority, while the Guyanese Colin Lewis beat the Barbadian Peter Wendell Murray.

In the super heavyweight category, the Dominican Daniel Guzmán fell by unanimous decision to the Colombian Juan Pablo Patillo, who took control of the fight from the second round onwards. In another matchup, the Cuban Fernando Alejandro Arzola López defeated the Guatemalan Luis Rodrigo Guerra Lima in the final round.

Caption: Miguel Ángel Encarnación is checked by the referee after being bitten by his opponent Andy Javier Caballero during the 65-kilogram bout at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026.