By Shawn Smith
If there was any doubt about which countries will rule the next decade of boxing, they can now be put to rest.
After Cuba dominated the morning session on Day 6 at the Rio Olympics, it was Kazakhstan that ran through the competition during the evening session, going 3-1 and advancing two fighters to their respective quarterfinals.
Kairat Yeraliyev put up an impressive performance for Kazakhstan early in the evening session with a victory over Azerbaijan’s Javid Chalabiyev. He’ll face Uzbekistan’s Murudjon Akhmadaliev in the next round on August 14.
For light heavyweight Niyazymbetov and welterweight Yeleussinov, the wins clinched their spots in the quarterfinals. Next up for Yeleussinov is a showdown with Venezuala’s Gabriel Maestre on August 13, while Niyazymbetov will take on Azerbaijan’s Teymur Mammadov on August 14.
One of Britain’s medal hopefuls stayed alive as Pat McCormack outpointed Ablaikhan Zhussupov. Things get much more difficult for McCormack in the next round however as he’ll take on Cuba’s Yasnier Toledo, one of the men expected to contend for gold.
Day 7 is the most exciting day of competition yet as the women’s flyweight and lightweight competitions get underway, as well as the semi-final bouts in the men’s light flyweight division. USA’s Nico Hernandez will look to continue his miracle run through the bracket and secure his spot in the gold medal fight when he takes on Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov during the morning session.
Carlos Balderas Jr. will need his best performance of the tournament to secure himself a semi-final spot as he is up against Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez. Mikaela Mayer will be the first U.S. women to box in these Olympics when she has her round-of-16 fight against Jennifer Chieng in the evening session.
Canadian medal hopeful, Mandy Bujold, one of only three Canadian boxers in the Olympics, will be in competition early in the day.
Quick results:
Men’s bantamweight (56kg.): Alberto Melian (ARG) def. Abdul Omar (GHA)
Men’s bantamweight (56kg.): Bilel Mhamdi (TUN) def. Inkululeko Suntele (LES)
Men’s bantamweight (56kg.): Kairat Yeraliyev (KAZ) def. Javid Chalabiyev (AZE)
Men’s light welterweight (64kg): Lorenzo Sotomayor Collazo (AZE) def. Volodymyr Matviichuk (UKR)
Men’s light welterweight (64kg.) Hassan Amzile (FRA) def. Jonas Junias Jonas (NAM)
Men’s light welterweight (64kg.): Pat McCormack (GBR) def. Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ)
Men’s welterweight (69kg.) Souleymane Cissokho (FRA) def. Parviz Baghirov (AZE)
Men’s welterweight (69kg.): Saylom Ardee (THA) def. Simeon Chamov (BUL)
Men’s welterweight (69kg.): Gabriel Maestre (VEN) def. Vincenzo Mangiacapre (ITA)
Men’s welterweight (69kg.): Daniyar Yeleussinov (KAZ) def. Josh Kelly (GBR)
Men’s light heavyweight (81kg.): Teymur Mammadov (AZE) def. Peter Mullenberg (NED)
Men’s light heavyweight (81kg.): Adilbek Niyazymbetov (KAZ) def. Mikhail Dauhaliavets (BLR)
