2016 Río Olympics - North & South American Boxing Qualification Finals

Round 1

Ramírez Durán is positioning himself on the outside and cuffing with a right hook. Mina Caicedo knocked off-axis by the shot a few times, involuntarily swaying to his side. The ref interrupts them after some cat-and-mouse with Mina Caicedo attempting to jab his way in and getting tapped with flurries and periodically tied up. "Sloppy!! :nono" admonishes the ref, indicating there had been some headbutts by smacking his palm into his own forehead. "NO HOLDING, RED" - he's getting angry with Ramírez Durán, who subsequently does a reverse clown tumble (a surprisingly acrobatic somersault away from Mina Caicedo while ducking a combo while his weight is already on his heels). He gets up and resumes defensive maneuvering, until they come together in a clinch. Ramírez Durán starts to argue that it wasn't his fault and the ref screams "YOU were the one holding! :fire"

10-9 Ramírez Durán

 

The commentator and I both thought it was clear for the Venezuelan, but all three judges have it 10:9 for the Ecuadorian. :conf

 

Round 2

Ramírez Durán is lobbing two-piece counters while backing up. Right hooks followed by chopping lefts. Mina Caicedo is rushing straight at him, raining down blows from too far out without getting set inside first, missing and getting countered. Mina Caicedo is only able to snatch at Ramírez Durán's arms, shaking him onto the ground and landing a looping right on the jaw as he falls. The ref warns both for wrestling. More countering by Ramírez Durán, playing flam rudiments (percussion jargon!!!) while gliding in wide circles around Mina Caicedo.

10-9 Ramírez Durán

20-18 Ramírez Durán

 

All three judges have it 10:9 and 20:18 for Mina Caicedo.

Yep, they're favoring aggression today, no doubt. (effective or not)

 

Round 3

Ramírez Durán is pawing light southpaw jabs in retreat. Mina Caicedo is pumping his left jab while sallying forth, looking for a home for his right cross. Mina Caicedo plants one as Ramírez Durán is ducking near the ropes. Lots of clinching as Ramírez Durán jumps inside to meet the advance of Mina Caicedo - both equally at fault. Both tired, fighting in spurts. Half a minute left. The ref even-handed in distributing warnings to both. Another bit of grappling, Mina Caicedo hanging onto Ramírez Durán's arms causing both to fall in a heap (Mina Caicedo on top) as his momentum carries him into a collision faster than Ramírez Durán can vacate his path.

10-9 Ramírez Durán, closest yet

30-27 Ramírez Durán (no matter, about to lose)

 

Mina Caicedo takes gold.

Ramírez Durán, if he is surprised, isn't showing it, giving a gracious hug to his foe and smiling as he exits the ring.

 

Ramírez Durán didn't perform as well today as he did yesterday (looked sensational defeating Jonathan Esquivel) - nor even as fast, maybe fatigued? - but he deserved gold here, for sure. Oh well.

 

Fernando Daniel Martínez (ARG) vs. Leonel de los Santos Núñez (DOM) - men's 52kg gold medal bout

 

Martínez is perhaps 5" shorter than de los Santos Núñez.

 

Round 1

Martínez is throwing very sharp, compact left hooks and ramp climbing rights on the face, ducking and weaving in close to stay under de los Santos Núñez's jabs and long whip-crack rights.

10-9 Martínez

 

Judges A & C have it 10:9 Martínez; Judge B has it 10:9 de los Santos Núñez

 

Round 2

Martínez is cleaving in tight against de los Santos Núñez, slashing and hacking with his fists shot up high before whizzing down in diagonals. de los Santos Núñez is flurrying with a churning whorl of uppers into the shorter boxer's face, and stepping back to bop him with long rights set up by a wavy full-extension jab that obstructs Martínez's view.

10-9 Martínez, close

20-18 Martínez

 

Judge A has it 10:9 and overall 20:18 Martínez.

Judges B & C have it 10:9 de los Santos Núñez; Judge B has it 20:18 de los Santos Núñez overall and Judge C has it level, 19:19.

 

Round 3

de los Santos Núñez is dancing from side to side on widely splayed legs and flipping jabs up into Martínez's face, using his length to his advantages. Martínez is moving his face inward, testing out the waters, barely slipping jabs with quick turns of his face. de los Santos Núñez starts to brush him with the jab as he reads Martínez and gets a read on his patterns enough to predict where the head will end up on its next bob towards him. Martínez can't get past the jab now. de los Santos Núñez is jogging in place, leaning away in a heel-to-knee run over the event logo in center ring as Martínez comes on with some bombs, unable to get close.

10-9 de los Santos Núñez

29-28 Martínez

 

Good close fight.