Thursday, 9 August 2012

Zou through as women reach a landmark - Olympics 2012

Claressa Shields of the United States in action against Marina Volnova of Kazakhstan
Claressa Shields (L) of the United States in action against Marina Volnova of Kazakhstan during the women's Middle Weight Boxing semi-finals on Day 12.

Reigning Olympic champion Zou Shiming of China set up a fight for gold again on Day 12, while there was a historic moment as the first women's Olympic Boxing medals were won - albeit they were bronze.

Zou defeated Kazakhstan's Birzhan Zhakypov to contest another gold in the men's Light Fly Weight quarter-finals.

The three-time world champion won the bout by 13 points to 10 as Zhakypov could not match him.

Devendro Singh Laishram made an exit after losing to Irishman Paddy Barnes 23-18. Devendro was the last of the eight Indian boxers to bid farewell to the ring as the nation failed to claim a single medal in the men's Boxing.

Thailand's Kaeo Pongprayoon won a well-fought bout against Aleksandar Aleksandrov from Bulgaria.

Pongprayoon guaranteed at least a bronze as he booked his place in the semis, continuing his winning form on his Olympic Games debut.

In the men's Light Welter Weight category, world bronze medallist and third seeded Vincenzo Mangiacapre defeated Kazakh Daniyar Yeleussinov 16-12 with a bout ending in a tense finish.

British boxer Thomas Stalker missed out on a medal as he lost to Mongolia's Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg 23-22.

Uranchimeg said: 'My soul is full of emotion. I have been in the Olympics three times now - Athens, Beijing and now London.

'It has been my long-standing dream to get a medal, which I have now achieved.'

Brazilian Yamaguchi Falcao Florentino caused another upset as he defeated top seed and reigning world champion Julio la Cruz Peraza from Cuba 18-15 in the men's Light Heavy Weight division.

After a tied first round, Florentino overpowered the Cuban champion giving him little time to recover from his aggressive jabs and hooks.

Despite the USA men going home without a medal for the first time in Olympic Games history, their women's team have a shot at gold after 17-year-old Claressa Shields overpowered Kazakhstans Marina Volnova 29-15.

She was one of the big winners on a day when history was made, as the first women's Olympic Boxing medals were won.

Shields will face powerful Russian Nadezda Torlopova in the final on Thursday after Torlopova, a former world champion at Super Heavy Weight, powered through 12-10 in a close fight with Li Jinzi of China.

Katie Taylor moved into the Light Weight final with a 17-9 win over Tajikistan's Mavzuna Chorieva at the ExCeL.

Her final will be against Russia's Sofya Ochigava, who advanced from her semi-final against Brazil's Adriana Araujo.

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Nicola Adams will fight rival Ren Cancan of China for the women's Fly Weight gold after getting the better of five-time world champion Mary Kom in their semi-final. 

Ren made it through following her victory over Marlen Esparza of the USA, who was guaranteed a bronze medal - along with all the other semi-final losers.

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