Boxing at the Summer Games of the XXXII Olympiad, Tokyo

Today is Day 4, with Round-of-16 matches in men's heavyweight and women's and men's welter as well as Round-of-32 in women's lightweight. Here is the full calendar of boxing live streams for the remainder:
https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule/sport/boxing

(must be an NBC subscriber; I believe they give a short free pass to watch for a bit until you have to log in)

 

Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo (CUBA) vs. Sewonrets Quincy Mensah Okazawa (JAPAN), 69kg

 

Round 1

Southpaw versus southpaw. Iglesias looking every bit his age from the neck up, but still quicker than a hiccup on that first step meeting Okazawa in the center of the ring and fencing with fast high dagger-thrust right jabs. Okazawa doing some good parrying work sliding his feet back when Iglesias brings the left cross behind the jabs, slapping it down with his inner arm, then countering with right jabs on the body while hissing/grunting through his teeth. Iglesias flurries downstairs as they come together and bump heads in a hurried frenzy of straight punching momentum carrying them into a collision. Okazawa planting more body jabs from the outside.

10-9 Okazawa

 

I'm watching from the start of the broadcast, which started around 4am EST.

 

All five judges gave the first round to SQM Okazawa.

 

Round 2

Okazawa really in a groove with his movement, long right jab on the body, and lacrosse stick left hands on the hairless pate of Iglesias. The referee gives Iglesias a warning for a rabbit punch as Okazawa is pulling free of a clinch, and then a second & final warning for holding (warning him in the 1st round as well; this one carries a threat of an immediate point deduction for any further noncompliance). Iglesias starts to pour on the aggression, dashing in with lead right hooks and scoring a few, but Okazawa is countering with two-fisted combos and then slamming inside, chests bumping, arms entangled before they each throw a parting shot on the break. The ref calls time and implores both men to break cleanly from now on. Clever work from Okazawa, standing upright for a moment to bait the Iglesias jab, then ducking and writhing beneath it to score a body jab. This results in his neck being trapped under Iglesias' descending arm, however, putting him in a headlock. The ref warns Okazawa not to let his own head go below Iglesias' waistband.

10-9 Okazawa, closer

 

Three judges gave the second to Iglesias, two went Okazawa.

 

Round 3

Iglesias trotting in with his gloves up, feinting, hopping lightly in place and then muscling past Okazawa's jab. They lock up and do some infighting, and then Okazara backs away hurt, pawing his right eye, seeming to indicate he got thumbed (presumably with Iglesias' left glove which had brushed down past it), but Iglesias had also just landed a body shot, which I guess is what the ref thinks caused Okazawa's retreat because he gives him a standing 8 count. The ref then warns Okazawa for a headbutt as he falls into a clinch as both flurry high. Iglesias then warned for a low blow/headbutt combo. Warned moments later to keep the punches up above the belt. Ref is earning his keep today. Iglesias runs into a right hook on the chin but clangs a few punches off the body and then mauls Okazawa roughly in a clinch and planting a sneaky left uppercut on the underside of his jaw. Okazawa shifting his weight between his feet, countering with right hooks up top and jabs below, then squeezing Iglesias' biceps in between his wrists to shut him down. Iglesias with some overhand lefts falling in, but limp & tired.

10-8 Iglesias

 

Not a great showing by the Cuban. Honestly, they just showed a replay of that 'knockdown' - and guess what actually hurt Okazawa to cause him to back away from the pocket? He did - Okazawa, that is - jumping inside and sort of landing face-first accidentally on Iglesias' forearm. Shouldn't have been even given a standing 8, as Iglesias didn't land a shot there (aside from a grazing body shot that obviously had nothing to do with Okazawa's eye) - which means this would've been a shutout for the Ghanaian-Japanese youngster for me.

Just too little get up and go from the red corner, and too much athletic energy from the blue.

 

Iglesias eliminated unless he gets a massive gift here, in front SQM's home crowd...

GODDAMN, wow. Yeah, they give him a split decision. Okazawa drops to his knees, dejected. Poor kid.

 

It turns out the ref did actually deduct a point from Iglesias in round two rather than just warn him - so that extra point from the fugazi KD is canceled out, effectively.

Roniel very lucky to scrape by there.

 

Delante Johnson (USA) vs. Ablaikhan Zhussupov (Kazakhstan), 69kg

 

Round 1

Johnson, orthodox in red, exploding up from a crouching Philly shell with right hand leads, nicely placed, sitting back away from the counters of Zhussupov the southpaw in blue. Johnson barking as he advances cautiously behind a jab and right, not committing with his punches, chin turned away. Zhussupov counters with some hard lefts on straight inclines banging Johnson on the nose, and then belts him with a left uppercut as the American sinks against the ropes attempting to slip. The ref warns Johnson for lowering the head, then warns Zhussupov for holding.

10-9 Zhussupov, close

 

Three judges gave Johnson the opener, the other two favoring Zhussupov.