The fifth day of action at the AIBA American Olympic Qualification Event in Buenos Aires saw strong performances from the American, Cuban and Argentine teams as some of the continent’s best boxers took a step closer to securing a precious Rio 2016 quota place.

The bright US talent Shakur Stevenson put in another world-class performance as he saw off the challenge of Uruguay’s Mathias Bagnado, ending their bantamweight bout resoundingly by knockout.

“I got in there, started establishing my game-plan of hit-and-not-get-hit, and then I landed a right hook. I am naturally right-handed but I fight southpaw, but I landed my right hand and he went out. It did not feel that hard but I knew I connected clean. The plan was to box him, keep him on the outside and don’t let him come in, then that knockout happened out of nowhere. That is my first pure knockout,” said a delighted Shakur Stevenson after the bout.

Argentina’s APB boxer Alberto Melian had already eliminated reigning Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez in Buenos Aires, and saw off Mexican WSB star Sergio Alfredo Chirino in another close encounter on Tuesday. Puerto Rico’s Carlos Caraballo then put in a superb performance to defeat Guatemala’s experienced bantamweight Juan Reyes, and Venezuela’s Jose Diaz is now just one win away from a guaranteed Olympic place after he beat Canada’s Tanjit S. Kenny Lally.

In the last of the light welterweight preliminaries, Puerto Rico’s Danielito Zorrilla was too strong for home favourite Ronan Sanchez and Bahamas’ Rashield Williams scored a surprise win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Hassette. Ecuador’s Miguel Ferrin dominated his bout with Costa Rica’s Eduardo Sanchez to join them in the quarter-finals.

At middleweight, Ferrin’s teammate and APB star Marlo Delgado won every round against Puerto Rico’s Luis Jose Rodriguez to keep his Olympic dream alive, and American Charles Conwell set up a semi-final against Colombian Jorge Vivas after a brilliant turnaround against Venezuela’s number two seed Johan Jose Gonzalez.

London 2012 Olympian Erislandy Savon edged a split decision against Ecuador’s WSB boxer Julio Cesar Castillo at heavyweight, while his fellow Cuban Leinier Pero was too strong for Brazil’s Rafael Duarte Lima in the super heavyweight competition. Pero is joined in the semis by Virgin Island’s Clayton Laurent after he eliminated Canada’s Aaron Huggins, and home favourite Kevin Nicolas Espindola after he beat Mexico’s Elvis Garcia to the delight of his fans.

Please find all the results here.

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