Punching Out Of It: USA Boxing Has Olympic Revival In Tokyo
Aug 4, 2021, 10:13 AM
Richard Torrez Junior of Team United States reacts during the fight against Kamshybek Kunkabayav of Team Kazakhstan during the Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) semi final on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena on August 04, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
TOKYO (AP) — American boxers are heading home from Tokyo with four medals.
That’s the most boxing hardware they’ve claimed since 2000, and three of those medals could still be gold.
Super heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. reached the finals two days after featherweight Duke Ragan clinched his own spot.
Advancing and dancing.@richardtorrez21 will fight for gold in the super heavyweight boxing finals. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/WBFsws0kk4
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 4, 2021
Torrez’s success is emblematic of the work done in the past half-decade by head coach Billy Walsh.
He has led the revitalization of the nation that still leads the overall Olympic boxing table in gold medals and total medals despite winning rarely in the 21st century.
Duked it out! 🥊@Duke1ragan is heading to the final bout to box for gold. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/xRsDAMNCti
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 3, 2021
The men won only three medals in the previous three Olympics combined.
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