Notable Performances and Semi-Final Previews

Men’s Featherweight

Kurt Walker (IRE) defeats Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov (UZB) – WOW! Kurt Walker of Ireland, got on his backfoot, and outmoved and outboxed Mirzakhalilov, who fought a more pro-style and was not rewarded by the judges. Walker will now have a very tough outing in his next bout as he faces

Duke Ragan (USA) defeated Serik Temirzhanov (KAZ) – WOW! WOW! WOW! Ragan beat one of the best fighters in the tournament Temirzhanov is a special pressure fighter, who Ragan outboxed, and outsmarted. The path to gold will not be easy for Ragan, but he has faced two of the hardest fighters already has stayed composed. I am very hopeful the USA fighter gets a medal.

Preview: Walker vs. Ragan: Duke Ragan should be the favorite as he faced a murderer’s row to start will not have to face Mirzakhalilov, but rather a backfoot fighter in Walker. This should lead to a medal for TEAM USA and a good chance at gold with Ceiber Avila being the biggest threat to Ragan that I see in his bracket.

Samuel Takyi (GHA) defeated Jean Caicedo (ECU) – Takyi is an aggressive high-volume fighter who puts forth pressure like world champion Emanuel Navarrete, as his offense forced Caicedo into being defensive. Takyi imposes his size and will on his opponents.

Ceiber Ávila (COL) defeated Everisto Mulenga (ZAM) – Avila is the biggest threat to Duke Ragan in this bracket, as Avila is like a southpaw Oscar Valdez with maybe a bit more aggression and a lot more wild. Avila was cut in the fight, which is something to note.

Preview: Takyi vs Avila – I favor Avila in this bout, but this will be the battle of two pitbulls as neither of these fighters will back down from one and another. This could be one of the most entertaining bouts of the tournament.

Lazaro Alvarez (CUB) defeated Danial Shahbakhsh (IRI) – Alvarez is te most pro-ready Cuban I have seen so far, and should easily make it out of the bottom bracket of featherweight. It is going to be tough to beat Alvarez, because he seems to be the most complete fighter I have watched thus far.

Chatchai-decha Butdee (THA) defeated Mirko Cuello (ARG) – Chatchai-decha Butdee beat Peter McGrail in the opening round, and now beat a tough fighter in Cuello. Butdee is a high-volume intelligent boxer who uses his range well, and shows a lot of experience. Though I favor Alvarez, the Cuban, over him, Butdee is a tough fight for anyone, and if managed right will be a world-level pro.

Light Heavyweight

Imam Khataev (ROC) defeated Bekzad Nurdauletov (KAZ) – I am sold on Khataev being a great pro if he is handled correctly as he beat the #2 seed, , in a fight that one of my friends texted to say was “Mike Tyson-like”. Sure, that type of praise seems a little high, but no one in the Olympics has entertained me more than Khataev, who has the power of Beterbiev, the chin of Golovkin, and enough boxing skill to beat a solid boxer. I still think a professional amateur will probably beat him, but Imam Khataev is one my #1 draft pick currently coming out of the Olympics. Khataev will medal.

Benjamin Whittaker (GBR) defeated Abdelrahman Oraby (EGY) – Whittaker reminds me a bit of Caleb Plant, a very good mover in the ring with a flashy style and big personality. Whittaker unapologetically is willing to fight on the outside, and after beating Oraby looked to do sometype of video game fireball reference for his post-fight celebration. Whittaker will be a very good pro, and his inevitable semi-finals bout against Khataev could be a classic.

Arlen López (CUB) defeated Mohammed Houmri (ALG) – Lopez is one of the more non-discrete Cuban boxers, think Sullivan Barrera, with more head movement, in a weight class Cuban boxers don’t typically dominate. Lopez will have a chance to medal, and is solid – at the same time, Lopez isn’t blowing me away like say Lazaro Alvarez, Imam Khataev or Lauren Price

Rogelio Romero (MEX) defeated Luka Plantić (CRO) – Romero will be a fighter you see in the pros for no other reason than he is Mexican at a higher weight class, and promoters will cling to that. Then add a possible pairing with Eddy Reynoso and you have a money making operation. Romero is what you would expect a high-quality fighter who is more focused on offense than defense, and breaks his opponents down. Plantic started very fast against Romero, but the tall Mexican southpaw is willing to trade and is all-action. In short, Romero is everything a major promoter looks for – like literally everything.

Loren Alfonso (AZE) defeated Dilshodbek Ruzmetov (UZB) – A major shocker to me, as Ruzmetov felts like a raw version of the great pro boxer Dmitry Bivol with the hop-in, hop-out style. The bout was ugly, but Alfonso used a Cuban-style of boxing to allude and evade Ruzmetov’s attacks which relied upon landing power shots, as much as land in of itself. Ruzmetov looked slow compared to Alfonso.

Women’s Featherweight

Nesthy Petecio (PHI) defeated Yeni Arias (COL) – Petecio is now my front-runner for the gold medal at the current moment. One of the most well-rounded fighters in the whole Olympic Games, and composed as well. Just a very smart fighter

Irma Testa (ITA) defeated Caroline Veyre (CAN) – Testa isn’t exactly like Demetrius Andrade, but has elements of the great Olympc boxer, and world champions style, such as the ability to use her long frame as a major key to her success. Testa is a great boxer.

Semi-Finals Preview: Petecio vs Testa: It is hard to not favor Petecio in this bout as she is used to fighting opponents who are taller than her, but if anyone can beat her in these games it will be Testa. I have a strong feeling the gold medalist wll come from this bout.

Karriss Artingstall (GBR) defeated Skye Nicolson (AUS) – In a close fight it was the army gunner Artingstall, who edged the fight. I felt Nicolson slightly edged it as she fought the fight of her life, but Artingstall is such a solid fghter with good technique, and someone who is very aggressive in the ring.

Sena Irie (JPN) defeated Maria Nechita (ROU) – Irie out boxed Nechita, who had beaten a solid amateur-style boxer, Ramla Ali, in the round prior. It wasn’t easy for Irie, but she got the job done.

Semi-Finals Preview: Artingstall vs Irie – It is hard not to favor Artingstall who looks like the person to beat in the division, but that being said, Irie is fighting literally in her hometown, and has the perfect style for amateur boxing, though I don’t see Irie translating to an amazing generational talent as a pro.

Women’s Middleweight

Lauren Price (GBR) defeated Mönkhbatyn Myagmarjargal (MGL) – Lauren Price might be the best boxer in the tournament, and may not get her shine due to the fact she fights in a weight class not commonly followed in women’s boxing in middleweight. Lauren Price could be a world champion in three-or-so fights. She is one of the best fighters in the Olympics, whether it is a man or a woman. She is elite.

Zemfira Magomedalieva (ROC) defeated Naomi Graham (USA) – Graham was probably the only fighter on paper that saw giving Price a tough test, but Zemfira Magomedalieva was too physical and grueling of a style. Magomedalieva imposed her style, and looks like the early favorite for silver in the division.

Other Results

Men’s Featherweight

Erdenebatyn Tsendbaatar (MGL) defeated Nguyễn Văn Đương (VIE)

Albert Batyrgaziev (ROC) defeated Alexy de la Cruz (DOM)

Men’s Light Heavyweight

Gazimagomed Jalidov (ESP) defeated Paulo Aokuso (AUS)

Keno Machado (BRA) defeated Chen Daxiang (CHN)

Bayram Malkan (TUR) defeated Shakul Samed (GHA)

Women’s Middleweight

Atheyna Bylon (PAN) defeated Caitlin Parker (AUS)

Tammara Thibeault (CAN) defeated Nadezhda Ryabets (KAZ)

Nouchka Fontijn (NED) defeated Elżbieta Wójcik (POL)

Rady Gramane (MOZ) defeated Érika Pachito (ECU)

Pooja Rani (IND) defeated Ichrak Chaib (ALG)

Li Qian (CHN) defeated Aoife O’Rourke (IRE)