U.S. men's winning streak ends but super heavyweight advances
American super heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. was victorious but middleweight Troy Isley lost early Thursday U.S. time, ending the U.S. men’s perfect record at the Tokyo Olympics.
Torrez, a 22-year-old from Tulare, Calif., blew out Chouaib Bouloudinats of Algeria 5-0 in the Round of 16. The winner dominated from the beginning, putting his opponent down in the first round and pounding him the rest of the way.
The scores were 30-25, 30-25, 30-27, 30-27 and 30-27.
Torrez will face Cuban Dainier Pero in the quarterfinals in the early morning hours Saturday U.S. time.
Isley, a 2-0 pro from Alexandria, Virginia, gave reigning amateur world champion Gleb Bakshi of the Russian Olympic Committee a run for his money but came up just short, losing 3-2 in the Round of 16.
Bakshi won by scores of 30-27, 29-29 and 29-28. Two judges had Isley winning, 29-28 and 29-28.
It was the first loss for the American men, who are now 7-1 in the competition.
Also, in the women’s competition, flyweight Virginia Fuchs of Houston lost to Stoyka Zhelyazkova Krasteva of Bulgaria 5-0 in the Round of 16. The scores were 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.
The U.S. women are 3-2.
Next up for the U.S. are lightweight Rashida Ellis of Colorado Springs, Calif., in the Round of 16 Thursday evening U.S. time and Oshae Jones of Lynn, Massachusetts, in the quarterfinals early Friday.
Ellis will take on Carolina Dubois, the sister of British heavyweight Daniel Dubois. Ellis also is from a boxing family. Here brothers are pros Rashidi and Ronald Ellis.
Jones will take on Maria Altagracia Moronta Hernandez of the Dominican Republic. The winner will be guaranteed at least a bronze medal.