2016 Río Olympics - North & South American Boxing Qualification Finals

Round 2

Starting off with a clinch. Angry warning from the ref, aimed in both men's direction. This is just an ugly clash of styles, and probably won't be improving as it goes on in terms of the frequency of butts. Gauthier down, not a knockdown - some kind of foul. He's clutching his shoulder, as though in extreme pain, like it was pulled from its socket. The ref interrupts the contest, sending Gauthier to his corner.

...this one may be over. :conf

 

Unclear what happened. My guess is that it was officially a No Contest because Gauthier could not continue, but that means Cabrera ends up advancing into the finals by default.

 

Luis Cabrera is being interviewed now...but in Spanish, unhelpfully. :!:

 

Poor Canada. I know they had high hopes for Gauthier (Yven Michel of GYM Promotions has an eye on signing him when he turns pro).

They get another chance to keep the Olympic dream alive now at welterweight, though.

 

Arthur Biyarslanov (CAN) vs. Carlos Daniel Tobar Romero (GUA) - 64kg

 

Arthur "The Chechen Wolf" Biyarslanov is a very decorated amateur, with a strong argument for best Canadian at the moment, with a gold medal in the Pan-Am Games including a win over Yasniel Toledo of Cuba.

 

Round 1

Biyarslanov is tagging Romero with some heavy right hooks and then swaying backward or ducking as Romero flurries at him in return. Biyarslanov is picking his spots, hurling in his entire body like a slingshot with accurate left hand leads on the nose, then dropping several inches and melting away, swerving his neck to navigate through Romero's spray of jabs and hard axing rights.

10-9 Biyarslanov

 

All three judges have it 10:9 Biyarslanov

 

Round 2

Biyarslanov is nailing Romero with those left hands and then clamping his right, open-gloved, around the base of Romero's neck to hold onto him and take a quick breather to reset before scurrying out and stalking to set up his next strike. The pace slows, as Biyarslanov starts to fire less often and make greater use of feint-steps. Romero just poking with body jabs and winging the right hand down unconvincingly as Biyarslanov dances around him.

10-9 Biyarslanov

20-18 Biyarslanov

 

Round 3

Biyarslanov connects with a powerful left in an exchange. Romero down but not ruled - commentator feels it should've been. Biyarslanov is clicking his medial malleoli together like Dorothy with her ruby slippeBiyarslanovrs as he trots laterally around Romero. Biyarslanov continues to score with his one-and-done bombs with both hands while executing quick evasive footwork or tying up in between. Romero has no recourse.

10-9 Biyarslanov

30-27 Biyarslanov

 

Next up:

Gary Russell III (USA) vs. Luis Martin Arcón Díaz (VEN) - 64kg

 

This particular Gary Russell isn't as fast as his bro, the WBC featherweight champ, but he looks pretty polished. Good jab, and has superb "vision" for oncoming punches, able to bat them down with a high-handed (turned outward, palms facing the opponent) defense in a vaguely feline pose.

 

Judge A had the 1st 10-9 to Russell, which seemed correct to me.

Judges B & C had it 10-9 Arcón Díaz, who is mostly just raking with throwaway jabs and then slamming in rights hoping to get lucky as Russell shoots off the ball of either foot to either outright dodge or just get clipped obliquely with his own gloves in the way to partly deflect. :conf

 

Russell much busier. Getting a bit haywire now, though, headhunting with flurries that mostly don't reach the much taller Arcón Díaz. Russell having the most success when he calms down and takes aim with a straight left on the abdomen. Long range straight punches from Arcón Díaz, many brushing the crown of Russell but some grazing his face.

 

All three judges had that one 10:9 for Arcón Díaz, meaning he now leads (19:19, 20-18, 20-18..)