ON day two of the Olympic Games in Rio, light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi produced an impressive Olympic debut to stop Uganda’s Kennedy Katende in the final round of their preliminary bout.
The Londoner was the only GB boxer competing yesterday (August 7) but maintained the team’s unbeaten record in the tournament, making it four wins from four.
Buatsi looked the stronger of the two from the opening bell, softening Katende up with jabs before hurting him to the body. Gradually wearing his man down, in the final round Buatsi forced what is the first stoppage of the tournament.
He will next face Elshod Rasulov of Uzbekistan on Thursday August 11.
At lightweight, Enrico La Cruz of the Netherlands edged past China’s Lai Chu-En on a very tight split decision.
There was a large upset at welterweight as 2012 bronze medallist Andrey Zamkovoy of Russia was outpointed by Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri, though the decision was questioned by many observors.
Former professional world champion Amnat Ruenroeng, of Thailand, moved past Argentina’s Ignacio Perrin at lightweight.
Ireland’s Steven Donnelly dominated Algerian Zohir Kedache over the three rounds to earn a wide decision at welterweight while his compatriot, David Oliver Joyce, beat Andrique Allisop of Seychelles to progress at lightweight.
