Controversy has engulfed the Olympic boxing once again, with a couple of terrible nights of scoring in London. Bad scoring and refereeing really suck, but we at TQBR are going to put on a brave face and continue to guide you through the competition. Friday we’ve got the men’s round of 16 in the flyweight and welterweight divisions.
Our previous schedules were accompanied by a picture of American bantamweight Joe Diaz, Jr., who was bundled out of the tournament by Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez in a brave effort. So we’ll start a new tradition with a pic of American welterweight Errol Spence. With a name like Errol, he was born into that rakish moustache.
Flyweight – 52kg/114.6lb – 3 August
America’s last remaining serious medal hope, Rau’shee Warren faces France’s Nordine Oubaali after a bye in the first round. Considering the sharks in this division, Oubaali is a relatively easy draw. Warren best concentrate though, so as not to repeat his early exit in Beijing. Russian world and European champion Misha Aloan also has a relatively easy one against Algeria’s Samir Brahimi, who was lucky to get past Australia’s Jackson Darren Woods in the round of 32. Englishman Andrew Selby probably has the toughest assignment of the early favourites, facing World Championships runner-up Ilyas Suleimenov.
Welterweight – 69kg/152.1 – 3 August
Team USA’s Errol Spence will have Indian World Championships bronze medallist Krishan Vikas in front of him, a really tough assignment. Brit Freddie Evans will face Lithuania’s Egidijus Kavaliauskas, perhaps a dark horse. France’s best medal chance in the boxing, Alexis Vastine has a gimme with Mongolia’s Tuvshinbat Byamba. Two time light welterweight world champion, Kazakhstani counterpuncher Serik Sapiyev may well end up facing the Frenchman for the gold medal, though this round he faces Japan’s Yasuhiro Suzuki.
