The Commonwealth Games saw a second consecutive day of great action in sunny Glasgow.

Following the major surprise of Day 1 when Scotland’s Reece McFadden eliminated Wales’ star boxer Andrew Selby, further spectacular battles were in action on Day 2 including a great clash between the two top favourites of the Lightweight class (60 kg), England’s Patrick McCormack and Wales’ Joseph Cordina.

Bout of the day
England’s EUBC European Junior Continental Champion Patrick McCormack joined the elite level earlier this year, and claimed his first ever Elite National title in May at the age of 19.

The Sunderland-based English Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer travelled to Glasgow as a contender for the gold, but he had to meet with another star of the division in Welshman Joseph Cordina, who has won the Tammer Tournament, the Gee Bee Tournament and several other events during his career.

McCormack was eight cm taller then his Welsh rival, but was unable to use his height to his advantage in the fight.

After a tactical opening round, both fighters improved as the fight progressed, and their equal battle all depended on the final three minutes.

Cordina coordinated his attacks better in the last round, which ultimately saw his hand raised after the final gong.

In eliminating one of his main rivals in a close contest, Cordina will be increasingly confident for gold.

Team of the day
New Zealand had three boxers in action in the second competition day in Glasgow, and all of them successfully made it through to the next round.

AIBA Oceania Olympic Qualifiers silver medallist Chad Milnes had a successful European tour this Spring, and his extra experience gave him a clear opening win in the Games.

His style is an attacking based one, and the Kiwi star defeated the Bangladesh National Champion Sura Chakma from the first seconds of the contest, as he knocked down his opponent en route to a unanimous decision victory.

New Zealand’s Gee Bee Tournament bronze medallist 22-year-old Leroy Hindley became the second fighter from his country to win on Day 2.

His opponent, the dangerous Mohammad Al-Amin started the fight better, but the Kiwi boxer went on to knock down his Asian opponent, who also received a warning in the bout.

Hindley’s triumph was a deserved one, and he is one to watch in this tournament.

New Zealand’s new Middleweight class (75 kg) boxer Eric Finau received the right to fight in the Commonwealth Games only just before the start of the Games.

The Four Nations Tournament winner boxer met with Sosefo Falekaono, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand from Tongan parents in 1991, and who is fighting for Tonga in the Games.

A fight that could have taken place in the country of their births instead occurred more than 17,000 km away.

Despite a great final round from Falekaono, Finau’s success earlier in the fight saw New Zealand’s winning path continue.

Surprise of the day
Kenya’s veteran Nicholas Okoth Okongo continued Kenya’s great start to the tournament with his triumph over Mauritius’s AFBC African Continental Champion Jean John Colin.

Ones to watch
Trinidad & Tobago’s best boxer Michael Alexander claimed a bronze at the AMBC American Continental Championships in Santiago de Chile last August, and has defeated strong Argentinean, Ecuadorian and Mexican rivals over the past year.

His first opponent in Glasgow was Nigeria’s Oto Joseph who competed in the last edition of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty.

The 21-year-old Caribbean Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer opened the bout better, and his attacks reached the target regularly in the second round as well.

Alexander was the better boxer throughout the entire contest, and advanced to the next round of the Commonwealth Games.

Seychelles’ London 2012 Olympian Andrique Allisop won the FXTM Boxing Cup in Cyprus in May, and the African Cup in East London in June, which ensured he arrived for these Games in terrific form.

The 21-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) had to meet with Papua New Guinea’s Tom Boga who claimed a bronze at the 2011 Pacific Islands Games and competed at the 2012 AIBA Oceanian Olympic Qualifiers.

Despite the experience of his opponent, Allisop continued his great form by dominating all of the rounds, proving he is a medal contender in the Games.

The host nation’s biggest ace, and London 2012 Olympian Josh Taylor started his competition in the front of the local fans in Glasgow on Day 2.

Scotland’s Light Welterweight class (64 kg) hope met with Kagiso Bagwasi of Botswana in the first preliminary round.

Taylor won all of the rounds 10:9, and has set himself up for future glory in Glasgow.

Quote of the day
“My first opponent from Papua New Guinea was a very strong boxer who hit like a Welterweight class (69 kg) athlete not a Lightweight one. He had tough hooks but I was taller than him, so I used straight punches all the time to keep him away and I stayed in the middle of the ring. I am very satisfied with today’s performance and I hope I can get a medal here in Glasgow,” said Seychelles’ young African Cup winner Andrique Allisop after his first triumph in the Commonwealth Games.

Tomorrow’s program
The third preliminary day at the Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow on Sunday.

The following weight categories will be in action: Flyweight class (52 kg), Lightweight class (60 kg), Light Welterweight class (64 kg), Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) and Heavyweight class (91 kg).

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