The second day of competition at the APB/WSB Olympic Qualification Event in Vargas, Venezuela, saw the flyweight (52kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (64kg), welterweight (69kg), light heavyweight (81kg) and heavyweight (91kg) boxers in action. The eighteen bouts delivered some superb boxing and surprise results as the winning athletes took another big step towards Rio 2016 qualification.

Turkey’s Yasin Yilmaz and Puerto Rico’s Jose Javier Rosario began the day, and it was the Turkish lightweight (60kg) who seized control and held off Rosario’s late rally to set up a semi-final bout with Mexico’s Lindolfo Delgado. Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng also progressed with a fine performance against Germany’s APB boxer Artur Bril in the first two rounds, and will now face Italy’s Carmine Tommasone.

Colombian WSB light heavyweight (81kg) Juan Carrillo had a strong Season VI for the Puerto Rico Hurricanes and looked in great form as he delivered the first TKO of the tournament against Serbia’s Petar Maukovic. USA Knockouts’ Jonathan Esquivel, who won both his WSB Season VI contests, kept his own Olympic dreams alive with a win over Bulgarian APB boxer Spas Genov and will now face Cameroon star Hassan Ndam Njikam in the last four.

“I felt good in my opening bout and though I could have performed much better, all that matters is that I got the decision. My tactics were to stay off the jab and keep it simple but explosive. I expect a more intense bout against my Cameroon opponent, but I’m sure I will control the bout and get the win,” said United States’ Jonathan Esquivel after his opening contest.

Experienced Croatian heavyweight (91kg) Marko Calic controlled his bout against Panama’s Israel Duffus and will meet Venezuela’s Alfonso Flores in the semi-final, while at flyweight (52kg), Ukrainian Maksym Fatych defeated India’s Gaurav Bidhuri to set up a final-four meeting with Caciques de Venezuela star Yoel Finol. The result of the day, however, came from Spain’s Youba Ndiaye Sissokho, who looked well-prepared for the in-form Serhii Bohachuk, himself fresh from a brilliant Season VI with Ukraine Otamans, and secured a remarkably convincing win in front of the Vargas crowds.

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