Big battles were held on the third competition day of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where a marathon program was scheduled.

Because of the blind drawing, even the top fighters in each weight class have been drawn against each other in the early round, with many shocks having taken place so far.

Scotland’s biggest gold medal contender Josh Taylor, and their new teenage star Reece McFadden both advanced to the quarter-finals in the front of the raucous local crowd.

Bout of the day
London 2012 Olympian Josh Taylor started his tournament with a clear triumph over Botswana’s Kagiso Bagwasi on Day 1, and his next next opponent was the tough Richarno Colin, Mauritius’ former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.

The Scottish boxer took the lead in the opening three minutes, utilising his superior skill against his opponent.

Taylor knocked down his African opponent in the second frame, and kept his advantage in the last round resulting in a clear victory.

The 23-year-old Scottish Light Welterweight class (64 kg) boxer was a silver medallist in the last edition of the Commonwealth Games, and is looking very likely to go one better on home soil.

Team of the day
India’s Manoj Kumar has had Commonwealth Games success in the past, but he had to perform at his very best against Canada’s future hope 19-year-old Arthur Biyarslanov.

The North American boxer was born in Makhachkala, in the Dagestan region of Russia but took up boxing in Canada, and the teenager shocked the Indian in the opening round.

Kumas used his very aggressive style much better in the second and final frames, and he was able to turn back their battle in Glasgow.

India’s Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) star Sumit Sangwan advanced to the last eight in the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty, and was the favourite against Tanzania’s Mohamed Hakimu Fumu in Glasgow.

The African boxer only began boxing in 2009, when Sumit Sangwan competed in the AIBA Junior World Championships in Yerevan, Armenia at the age of 16, and the 21-year-old Indian rising hope defeated his African rival with an impressive performance on Day 3.

Surprises of the day
Antigua is famous for its white sandy beaches, but less so for their boxing prowess.

That seems to have changed now, with their Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) boxer Yakita Aska who competed in the last edition of the Commonwealth Games, but went out early.

This time around he had to meet with another fighter from that continent, Uganda’s National Trials winner Solomon Geko Kozaala, and the Caribbean boxer was able to send him home after their bout.

Although the Ugandan boxer received a warning, the main difference was Aska’s better boxing skills, which resulted in a triumph for Antigua & Barbuda.

Seychelles’ African Cup winner and London 2012 Olympian Andrique Allisop travelled for at least a medal to Glasgow, and due to his unbeaten record in 2014 it was a realistic target for the young boxer.

The Lightweight class (60 kg) fighter met with Barbados’ 23-year-old Cobia Breedy in the last 16, but could not repeat his previous performances.

Speedy Breedy, which is the nickname of the Barbadian boxer accomplished the biggest triumph of his career.

New Zealand’s Vllaznia Memorial Tournament winner David Nyika received the right to compete in the Commonwealth Games just prior to the final team selection.

Nyika won’t turn 19 until later this year, but the native talent conjured up an amazing performance in the Games where he eliminated Scotland’s home favourite, AIBA Youth World Championships silver medallist Scott Forrest in a top level bout.

Ones to watch
Scotland’s newly crowned National Champion 19-year-old Reece McFadden eliminated Wales’ two-time EUBC European Champion and AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist star Andrew Selby in the opening round on Day 1, which was the biggest surprise result of the Games so far.

His next opponent was also a class opponent, England’s EUBC European Continental Championships bronze medallist Charlie Edwards, and the talented English boxer could not stop the Scottish storm in Glasgow, as McFadden won again impressively.

McFadden can now prepare for his quarter-final bout, where his opponent will be Botswana’s All Africa Games winner star Oteng Oteng.

Sportaccord World Combat Games silver medallist Joseph Cordina eliminated one of his main rivals at the Lightweight class (60 kg), England’s EUBC European Junior Continental Champion Patrick McCormack in the first preliminary round on Saturday.

22-year-old Cordina had to fight again on Sunday against Canada’s National Champion David Gauthier, and his efforts were enough to beat his North American opponent in Glasgow.

The referee gave the Canadian veteran a count in the first round, and the Welsh boxer eventually won via unanimous decision.

England’s Samuel Maxwell began boxing at the age of 11 in 1999, and boasts fifteen years of boxing experience.

The 26-year-old boxer trains in the Salisbury ABC in Liverpool, and claimed the gold medal at the Strandja Memorial Tournament in February.

Maxwell dominated all of the rounds against Kenya’s youngest team member in Glasgow, Denis Okoth and advanced to the quarter-finals winning the bout by unanimous decision.

He was the first boxer in the Commonwealth Games who could beat a Kenyan athlete in Glasgow.

Mauritius’ All Africa Games winner and African Champion Kennedy St. Pierre defeated strong athletes in the last edition of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi at the age of 18 including Wales’ London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist Fred Evans.

The Mauritian boxer has moved up two weight classes since his last appearance, and now fights in the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg).

St. Pierre is unbeaten this year, and did not give any chances to his first opponent, Ghana’s David Bawah Akankolim, knocking down his rival and dominating all of the rounds in Glasgow.

Quote of the day
‘I am satisfied enough with my performance in Glasgow. I could use my best weapon, my quick attacks and I hit him on his body several times which helped me to win my first bout in the Commonwealth Games. Thanks for everybody who supported me,” commented Pakistan’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Muhammad Waseem who eliminated Malaysia’s Jaya Raman Selvakumar in the Flyweight class (52 kg).

Tomorrow’s program
The Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg) will be joining the Games’ program on the fourth preliminary day, and they will start their long way to the glory in Glasgow.

Also competing on Day 4 will be the Men’s Light Flyweight class (49 kg), Bantamweight class (56 kg), Welterweight class (69 kg) and Middleweight class (75 kg).

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