ReutersOlympics-Boxing-Filipina Petecio advances to finals; old rivals to meet in semis
Reigning world champion Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines defeated Italian Irma Testa in the featherweight boxing semi-final on Saturday to keep her in the contest for what could be her country's second-ever gold medal in the Olympics. The diminutive 29-year-old lost the first round against a much-taller Testa but won the second and was on the front foot throughout the third, chasing her opponent with lightning-quick steps and rapid-fire punches. In an arena that gave Petecio a home-crowd feel thanks to roaring cheers from team mates, officials and Filipino journalists, Petecio grabbed the win in a split decision, crying and falling to her knees as her name was announced.
ReutersOlympics-Boxing-After narrow escape from home fire, American Jones eyes gold
After losing most of her home and thousands of dollars worth of boxing equipment in a fire in May, U.S. welterweight Oshae Jones said her eyes were on the gold prize now she was assured of a medal at the Tokyo Games. "I had a vision of me standing on the podium and I practise my gold medal speech every day, so I plan on it," Jones said after beating Dominican Maria Moronta in the quarter-finals on Friday, securing at least a bronze. Jones narrowly escaped a fire that destroyed more than half of the home that she and her boyfriend had bought in Toledo, Ohio - a "fixer-upper" that they were almost done renovating.
ReutersOlympics-Boxing-Inspired by Team GB's taekwondo, Price eyes gold
TOKYO (Reuters) -World middleweight boxing champion Lauren Price dominated in her opening bout at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, saying she was "massively" inspired by Britain's performance in taekwondo, a sport in which she has also competed. A favourite to take the Olympic gold, the Welsh southpaw outclassed Mongolian Myagmarjargal Munkhbat, effective with a flurry of shots and getting a solid left cross to her opponent's head in the first round. Price looked energised and pleased after her win by unanimous vote, flashing a smile and sparring for the cameras as she left the arena.
