Boxing Light Flyweight (48 kg) / Gold Medal Rounds
Bulgaria's Daniel Petrov BOJILOV, reigning world champion, built an early lead and was never threatened as he won the 48kg gold medal. BOJILOV controlled the first round, building a 4-0 lead at the bell. BOJILOV used his quickness and reach advantage to elude Mansueto VELASCO (PHI) and score with his right hand. In the second round, VELASCO ended his scoring drought early as he began to land lefts. VELASCO scored 5 points in the first 2 minutes of the round, but BOJILOV landed three scoring blows in the final minute to stretch his lead to 11-5 entering the final round. BOJILOV was masterful in the third round as he danced around VELASCO and seemed to score at will with his long reach. BOJILOV held VELASCO scoreless until the final 5 seconds of the round as he pulled away with the win 19-6.
Final Results: Gold - Daniel Petrov BOJILOV (BUL); Silver - Mansueto VELASCO (PHI); Bronze - Oleg KIRYUKHIN (UKR) / Rafael LOZANO (ESP).
"This is super. I feel super. All the training I have gone through is what got me this far," said BOJILOV (BUL). "I knew I was doing well in the fight."
Hungary's Istvan KOVACS, bronze medalist at the 1992 Games, now has a gold medal. KOVACS led throughout the bout defeating Arnaldo MESA from Cuba, in spite of a slow start. KOVACS opened the scoring with a right cross 44 seconds into the bout and landed another right cross with 10 seconds remaining to take 2-0 lead at the bell. After KOVACS scored twice more, MESA finally got on the board with a left hook 25 seconds into the second round. But KOVACS continued to be the more accurate puncher as he stretched his lead to 11-4 entering the final round. In the third round, MESA landed two quick shots cutting the lead to 11-6, before KOVACS quickly regained control of the bout and pulled away for the win, 14-7.
Final Results: Gold - Istvan KOVACS (HUN); Silver - Arnaldo MESA (CUB); Bronze - Raimkul MALAKHBEKOV (RUS) / Vichairachanon KHADPO (THA).
Algeria's Hocine SOLTANI defeated Bulgaria's Tontcho TONTCHEV in a 3-3 tiebreaker. Both boxers were very cautious in the first round and SOLTANI landed a left for the only score of the round. The second round was a repeat of the first as both boxers continued to have trouble landing punches. TONTCHEV finally got on the board with a right 1:30 into the round. SOLTANI threw more punches as he tried to dart in and out but was unable to score until he landed a right to take a 2-1 lead with 15 seconds left in the round. In the third SOLTANI was penalized 2 points for slapping with 1:57 left in the third, allowing TONTCHEV to pull ahead 3-2. The score remained that way until SOLTANI landed a straight left with 35 seconds left to tie it up. The tiebreaker score was 20-16.
Final Results: Gold - Hocine SOLTANI (ALG); Silver - Tontcho TONTCHEV (BUL); Bronze - Terrance CAUTHEN (USA) / Leonard DOROFTEI (ROM).
Cuba's 165-pounder Juan HERNANDEZ, was defeated in an upset today by Oleg SAITOV from Russia. With the loss, HERNANDEZ received his second consecutive Olympic silver medal. HERNANDEZ landed two straight lefts to take an early 2-0 lead in the first round, put SAITOV responded with a right with 50 seconds remaining in the round, and the score stood at 2-1 at the bell. SAITOV surged ahead in the second round, outscoring HERNANDEZ 6-2. Both boxers picked up the attack, but SAITOV was able to stay out of HERNANDEZ's range for much of the round. HERNANDEZ landed a straight left to close the gap 8-6, 30 seconds into the third round, but SAITOV controlled the rest of the bout. SAITOV scored five consecutive points, mostly with right hands to take command of the bout. SAITOV won 14-9.
Final Results: Gold - Oleg SAITOV (RUS); Silver - Juan HERNANDEZ (CUB); Bronze - Marian SIMION(ROM) / Daniel SANTOS (PUR).
Ariel HERNANDEZ saved Cuba from going 0-3 in the gold medal rounds as he clinched a win defeating Malik BEYLEROGLU (TUR). HERNANDEZ enjoyed a quick start as he landed two lefts in the first 20 seconds of the first round. HERNANDEZ landed another left with 50 seconds left and took a commanding 3-0 lead at the bell. In the second round HERNANDEZ stretched his lead to 4-0 before BEYLEROGLU finally landed a right with 1:43 left in the round. HERNANDEZ score two more times to end the round ahead 6-1. In the opening seconds of the third, HERNANDEZ landed three quick punches to increase his lead 9-1. HERNANDEZ stayed in the move the entire round as he danced his way to the gold medal, winning 11-3, for his second consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Final Results: Gold - Ariel HERNANDEZ (CUB); Silver - Malik BEYLEROGLU (TUR); Bronze - Mohamed BAHARI (ALG) / Roshii WELLS (USA).
Felix SAVON of Cuba won his second consecutive Olympic gold medal when he scored an easy 20-2 decision over Canada's David DEFIAGBON. SAVON controlled the entire bout. By the end of the first round SAVON had built a 6-0 lead as DEFIAGBON was never able to penetrate his defense. SAVON continued his dominance in the second round as DEFIAGBON received a standing eight after SAVON landed a right cross to increase his lead to 10-0. DEFIAGBON finally got on the board with a straight right with 38 seconds remaining in the second. SAVON finished the round ahead 11-1. SAVON opened up the third round giving DEFIAGBON another standing eight rocking him with a series of right hands.
Final Results: Gold - Felix SAVON (CUB); Silver - David DEFIAGBON (CAN); Bronze - Nate JONES (USA) / Luan KRASNIQI (GER).
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