Kenyan underdog thrills boo boys to beat Russian boxer
Kenya’s Rayton Nduku Okwiri produced the biggest shock of the boxing so far at the Rio Games on Sunday when he defeated Russia’s welterweight London bronze medallist on a split decision.
The 9,000-seat arena gave the Russian boxers and a smattering of their fans a few half-hearted boos, after all 11 of the country’s fighters were cleared to compete in Rio despite revelations of rampant state-run doping across Russian sports.
Okwiri was the underdog against Andrei Zamkovoi, who won bronze four years ago, in their welterweight clash.
But he made a nonsense of that and quickly endeared himself to the largely Brazilian crowd, who booed when the few Russian supporters chanted and shouted “Kenya! Kenya!” as the 30-year-old Okwiri kept pursuing his foe.
“We were prepared and we had a good game plan with the coaches and everything went as well as we had prepared,” said the Kenyan.
“Having the crowd on my side helped me a lot because when I punched I could hear them shouting so I gained a lot of confidence.”
Russia’s day in the ring got worse soon after when light heavyweight Petr Khamukov followed Zamkovoi out of the Rio exit door when he lost on a split decision to Venezuela’s Albert Ramon Ramirez.
Earlier, a third Russian, Adlan Abdurashidov, declined to speak to media after outclassing Thadius Katua in the lightweight class.
Abdurashidov was the more accomplished fighter in earning a unanimous points decision over the Papua New Guinea man, who grew up using punchbags filled with sawdust and would lay rope on the ground as a makeshift ring in his village.
Uganda’s schedule
Sunday August 7
Boxing – L/heavy Kennedy Katende beaten by Britain’s Joshua Buatazi
Sunday August 7
Swimming – Jamila Lunkuse Finished 8th in the 100m breast stroke Heat 2 (see bottom)
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NEXT
Swimming
Thursday August 11
Joshua Ekirikubinza Men’s 50 m freestyle
Boxing
August 13
Fly Ronald Serugo vs Narek Abgaryan of Armenia
Athletics
Friday August 12 Day 7
Women’s 10000m women final
Saturday August 13 Day 8
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase round 1
10000m men final
Sunday August 14 Day 9
Women’s marathon
Monday August 15 Day 10
Men’s 3000m steeplechase round 1
Women 3000m steeplecahse final
Tuesday August 16 Day 11
Women’s 5000m round 1
Men’s 1500m round 1
Wed August 17 Day Day 12
Men’s 5000m round 1
women’s 800m round 1
Men’s steeplecahse final
Thursday August 18 Day 13
Men’s 1500m semifinal
Men’s 800m semifinal
Friday August 19 Day 14
women’s 5000m final
Saturday August 20 Day 15
Men’s 1500m final
Women’s 800m final
Men’s 5000m final
Sunday August 21 Day 16
Men’s Marathon final
RESULT SWIMMING Heat 2 100m Women breastroke
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1:09.49
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1:10.22
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1:10.94
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1:11.37
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1:14.96
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1:16.65
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1:17.37
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1:19.64
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