Notable Fighters

Men’s Flyweight

Yuberjen Martínez (COL) defeated Rajab Mahommed (BOT) – Martinez has a high work, puts forth a lot of pressure, and is just all-around solid as he outclassed Mahommed. Martinez is in the type of volume puncher fans of the lower weights tend to fall in love with. Martinez will next face tournament favorite, Amit Panghal of India, which will show a bit of his ceiling as a fighter. Martinez might be the darkhorse of the division, that we all slept on, as Martinez was a medalist in Rio 2016, and looked the part of a gold medalist in round one.

Ryomei Tanaka (JPN) defeated Yoel Finol – Kosei Tanaka’s elder brother, Ryomei Tanaka came out of obscurity to defeat Rio 2016 silver medalist Finol in a body punching clinic. Tanaka looks like a special fighter and could be someone to watch, but has one of the hardest draws in the Olympics. In fact, I can’t find a harder draw for a talented fighter.

Shakhobidin Zoirov (UZB) defeated Batuhan Çiftçi (TUR) – Zoirov, the 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist is what I often call a professional amateur. Zoirov has good footwork and is really awkward, but I am not drawn to him in terms of a pro-style. Reminds me of another 2016 Gold Medalist, Robson Conceição

Carlo Paalam (PHI) defeated Brendan Irvine (IRE) – A sad fate for Irvine who is eliminated in the first of his second Olympics, as Paalam looks like a force of nature in this event. Aggressive pro-ready style with a lot of volume and mixes up the speed of his punches as well. Paalam is very good.

Sulemanu Tetteh (GHA) defeated Rodrigo Marte (DOM) – Tetteh looks like he could be a world champion in five pro fights. Tetteh is incredible, and experienced, as well as a three-time Olympian. The talent at men’s flyweight is plenty, and could be one of the best division to watch in the next few rounds.

Galal Yafai (GBR) stops Koryun Soghomonyan (ARM) – Yafai, the brother of Kal and Gal Yafai, not looks pro-ready, but looks to be one of the most impressive fighters in the deepest bracket I have seen thus far. Yafai is a big puncher, who has a style that will easily transfer to the pros, and is one of the most exciting fighters in the tournament, thus far, of any bracket.

Men’s Middleweight

Euri Cedeño (DOM) stopped Eldric Sella (EOR) – Cedeno dropped his opponent in seconds, and then stopped in a little over one minute. Cedeno reminds a lot of a young Erislandy Lara, solid straight punches with a deadly left hand. Cedeno is a guy in these Olympic Games.

Troy Isley (USA) defeated Vitali Bandarenka (BLR) – Troy Isley has been one of my favorite USA amateurs and that continues with his first-round win over the 35-year-old Bandarenka. Isley is able to box, but what I like the most is his ability to fight in the pocket, and match power with power. Isley will face tournament favorite, Gleb Bakshi next, I see Isley as a live dog in that bout. If Isley wins that fight, Isley should medal.

David Tshama (COD) defeated Wilfried Ntsengue (CMR) – Both Tshama and Ntsengue showed skills and will in this bout, as both impressed me in one of the better bouts of the evening. Ntsengue seems a bit more ready for the pros, but Tshama has a tremendous will that is only matched by his punchout which is a lot.

Women’s Featherweight

Nesty Petecio (PHI) defeated Lin Yu-ting (TPE) – Petecio dethroned the #1 seed and now advances to the round of eight as Petecio is looking like a gold medal contender. Talented, and experienced Petecio now has a path to advance.

Maria Nechita (ROU) defeated Ramla Ali (SOM) – Ali was one of the favorites in the tournament based on her story, but it appears her style, which is all-elusive and very much a conditioning-based amateur style, mixed with a lot going on with her might have been a bit too much as Nechita bullied her. Nechita now becomes an interesting fighter to watch for as she fought one of the favorites and showed her no respect, and also made her feel very uncomfortable in large durations of the fight.

Sena Irie (JPN) defeated Khouloud Hlimi (TUN) – Irie defeated Hilmi, and looks like Japan’s best bet for a medal, though I wouldn’t count her out to win gold she has at least two very hard fights in front of her, if not three. Irie has a path to get a medal, and has a technical-style that will cause many problems.

Karriss Artingstall (GBR) defeated Jucielen Romeu (BRA) – Artingstall is look every bit the part of an Olympic medalists as her length and ability to keep distance is making her a force in the bottom bracket. Her win over the #3 seed is nothing short of impressive, and now we sit and wait to see if we get the high drama of a potential Brittan vs Brittan class between Artingstall and Ramla Ali in the semi-finals, which is a bout I bet we revisit in the pros.

Skye Nicolson (AUS) defeated Im Ae-ji (KOR) – Nicolson is a fighter I am drawn to and can’t really explain why. Nicolson has good skills, and is tricky, I could see her having trouble against fighters who are taller than her, but she is interesting fighter to watch, and more than likely will hit the ground running if she chooses to be a pro. Her bout against Karriss Artingstall will be telling of her ceiling in the near future.

Results

Men’s Flyweight

Hu Jianguan (CHN) defeated Sakhil Alakhverdovi (GEO)

Patrick Chinyemba (ZAM) defeated Alex Winwood (AUS)

Daniel Asenov (BUL) defeated Cosmin Girleanu (ROU)

Gabriel Escobar (ESP) defeated Ramón Quiroga (ARG)

Saken Bibossinov (KAZ) defeated Yankiel Rivera (PUR)

Men’s Middleweight

Yuito Moriwaki (JPN) defeated Shahin Mousavi (IRI)

Francisco Verón (ARG) defeated Adam Chartoi (SWE)

Andrej Csemez (SVK) defeated Aaron Prince (TTO)

Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan (CHN) defeated Ashish Kumar (IND)

Fanat Kakhramonov (UZB) defeated Giorgi Kharabadze (GEO)

Women’s Featherweight

Yeni Arias (COL) defeats Stanimira Petrova (BUL)

Caroline Veyre (CAN) defeated Nikolina Ćaćić (CRO)