Puerto Colombia witnessed the first flashes of excellence of Yoel Finol. Six rounds of impeccable boxing catapulted the Venezuelan’s third professional victory, in what was the best performance of his short career so far.

The comments around the ring were summarized to praise during the fight of the 24-year-old boxer, who used his tools to win all the rounds over Colombian Javier Martínez. His opponent never found him, Finol moved in the ring with overwhelming confidence and punched an opponent who at times looked defenseless despite his good record.

Opinions ranged from “he’s untouchable” to “the South American Lomachenko” as he taught his boxing class. Finol left the hotel with a prayer to God, as he said after his fight. He wanted to show what he is capable of and the best of his boxing, he felt ready to do it in his third presentation and clear up what he considers were doubts in his first fights.

His prayers were answered and Yoel showed his best version with an eye-catching style, the same style that led him to win a silver medal four years ago in Rio 2016, which he finally adapted to professional boxing.

He seems to have found the formula in this new field. He just needs to try it against tougher opponents and in longer fights, but he seems to have made the necessary adjustment to get his style on track and to be highly effective.

He was defined by Professor Jorge Ramírez, director of the WBA Academy, who has been following him since he was a child, as “a moving genius”. Finol seems to think before his opponents, as if a voice warned him of what they are going to do. The way he anticipates what his opponent will do is amazing, and he does it with a high volume of shots to punch and shine.

There is a detail that the Venezuelan wants to improve and that is to end the fights quickly. Finol knows how to move and that is exactly what prevents him from hitting hard and finishing his opponents before the limit. He said he will work on the rhythm and find the moment to plant his feet on the ring so that his punch hurts.

This is the goal he has set for the near future and people will be eager to see if he can achieve it. The truth is that fight after fight has been improving considerably and there is reason to believe what he has set out to do.

Finol is compared to the great historical fighters of his country, which seems premature. This is a story that is barely writing its first lines but whose beginning looks pretty good.