Olympic Boxing : Ramirez Carrazana through to last 16

Posted date: July 31, 2012 In: Sports | comment : 0

Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana produced a typically classy performance as Cuba marked their return to the Olympic Boxing ring intent on making up for their intense disappointment in Beijing.

Ihab Almatbouli in action

Ihab Almatbouli (left) in action against Lukmon Lawal on Day 3 of the Games.

For the first time since 1972, the Cuban boxing team left the Games in the Chinese capital with no gold medals to their name, but the display by 18-year-old Ramirez Carrazana suggests their famed production line is showing no sign of slowing.

The 2010 world youth champion picked apart Japan’s Katsuaki Susa 19-7 to move into the last 16.

Ramirez Carrazana was just one of a number of impressive Fly Weights in action in what could well prove to be the most competitive division of the Games.

Frenchman Nordine Oubaali looked powerful in outclassing Afghanistan’s sole boxing representative Ajmal Faisal 22-9, while Thailand’s Chatchai Butdee – who is next up for the Cuban – impressed beating Turkey’s Selcuk Eker 24-10.

Mongolia’s former world silver medallist Tugstsogt Nyambayar was another potential medal contender at Fly Weight as he dispatched Azerbaijan’s Elvin Mamishzada, himself a former world quarter-finalist, 18-11.

At Light Heavy Weight, Ecuador’s Carlos Gongora survived a torrid last three minutes to beat Azerbaijan’s Vatan Huseynli 9-8.

Earlier, Ihab Almatbouli made history as Jordan’s first Olympic boxer and marked the occasion by marching into the last 16 of the 81kg division with a powerful 19-7 win over Nigeria’s Lukmon Lawal.

Australia’s world number two Damien Hooper pulled out a fantastic last round to beat USA’s Marcus Browne 13-11. Trailing by a point heading into the last, Hooper poured in the punches and forced Browne to take a standing count.