Carlos Banteur Suárez (born October 13, 1986) is a Cuban amateur boxer from Santiago de Cuba best known for qualifying for the 2008 Olympics at welterweight. His name is sometimes misspelled Banteaux, Banteaur or Banteux by some sources outside Cuba.
Career Banteur won the 64 kg World Junior Championships 2004, but struggled at senior level for years at junior welter even nationally. His best result was a second place in 2006 vs Inocente Fiss, in 2007 he again exited early.
After the failed defection of dominant welterweight world champion Erislandy Lara, however, Lara was sidelined and the division was wide open. Banteur moved up and won the 2008 nationals immediately with a clear 15:6 final win over veteran Yudel Johnson.
He won the Dominican Copa Independencia and dominated his four bouts at the Olympic qualifier routing Óscar Molina 19:4 in the all-important semifinal. In the meaningless final he also beat fellow qualifier John Jackson 12:2.
At the Olympics Banteur defeated Hosam Abdin to reach the medal rounds.
Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing, China (light welterweight) 1st round bye Defeated Billy Joe Saunders (Great Britain) 13–6 Defeated Hosam Bakr Abdin (Egypt) 10–2 Defeated Kanat Islam (China) 17–4 Lost to Bakhyt Sarsekbayev (Kazakhstan) 18–9
World Cup 2005 in Moscow, Russia (light welterweight) Lost to Kanat Orakbayev (Kazakhstan) 36–44 Lost to Oleg Komissarov (Russia) 25–30
Amateur career highlights Year Tournament Venue Weight class Result Opponent Score / Notes 2004 World Junior Championships Jeju Island, South Korea 64 kg Ramadan Yasser Won gold medal 2005 World Cup Moscow, Russia 64 kg Oleg Komissarov Team tournament; lost in finals 2008 Summer Olympic Games Beijing, China 69 kg Bakhyt Sarsekbayev Lost in gold medal match (4–18) 2008 Boxing World Cup Moscow, Russia 69 kg Vasili Belous Won gold medal 2011 Pan American Games Guadalajara, Mexico 69 kg Óscar Molina Won gold medal (20–13)
External links 2004 World Juniors Nationals 2008 Olympic qualifier