Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba delivers emphatic win on spectacular afternoon for the Super Heavyweights at Rio 2016
August 14th, 2016 / IBA
Saturday’s afternoon session saw the big-hitting Super Heavyweights (+91kg) provide the thrills as Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba, Britain’s Joe Joyce and Uzbek Bakhodir Jalolov all delivered show-stopping wins to reach the Quarter-Finals, while the final was confirmed at Heavyweight (91kg) as Kazakhstan’s Vassily Levit out-boxed Cuba’s Erislandy Savon.
France’s Elie Konki got the session underway with a win over German Hamza Touba in the first Men’s Flyweight (52kg) bout and will now meet Russia’s Misha Aloian in a tricky second-round tie on Monday. Mexican Elias Emigdio Abarca was then floored with a heavy body blow in the middle of his bout with Mongolia’s Enkh-Amar Kharkhuu, but recovered brilliantly to progress.
China’s Hu Jianguan edged a brilliant battle with Turkey’s Selcuk Eker and will meet Armenia’s Narek Abgaryan after he progressed against the experienced Ugandan Ronald Serugo. The second-round line-up was completed when Morocco’s Achraf Kharroubi overcame Lesotho’s Moroke Mokhotho to set up a tough match against Cuban second-seed Yosbany Veitia on Monday night.
The line-up for the second Light Welterweight (69kg) Semi-Final was then decided, as Thailand’s Ardee Saylom and France’s Souleymane Cissokho put on a superb show of boxing for the packed house. Ardee had the better of the first three minutes, but Cissokho finished strongly to assure himself at least a bronze ahead of what will be a tough tie against Kazakhstan’s lightening-fast Daniyar Yeleussinov. The former World Champion was up against the spirited Venezuelan Gabriel Maestre, and conjured another majestic performance to keep his hopes of gold in Rio well and truly alive.
The second Heavyweight (91kg) Semi-Final saw Kazakhstan’s Vassily Levit take on Erislandy Savon, and if the Cuban narrowly won the first round, the second belonged to Levit, leaving the last three minutes on a knife edge. Levit came out with more intent, and as Savon struggled to find his range, the delighted Kazakh advanced to the gold-medal match.
Britain’s Joe Joyce made quick work of his opening Super Heavyweight (+91kg) bout against Cape Verde’s Davilson Morais, registering a TKO victory with a big right at the end of the first round. His next test will be Bakhodir Jalolov Edgar Munoz, who was in equally impressive form as he halted Venezuelan Edgar Munoz in the second.
The Super Heavyweight competition was already living up to its billing when Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba delivered a spectacular first-round knockout against Trinidad and Tobago’s Paul Nigel to send the crowd wild. Ajagba will meet Kazakhstan’s London 2012 bronze medalist Ivan Dychko on Tuesday for a place in the final after his TKO win against the Azeri Mahammadrasul Majidov.
