• London 2012 - Boxing

Joshua claims hard-fought win over Savon

ESPN staff
August 1, 2012
Anthony Joshua is awarded victory © Getty Images
Enlarge

Great Britain's Anthony Joshua earned a narrow victory over Cuba's Erislandy Savon on Wednesday evening to progress to the final eight of the super-heavyweight boxing division at the London Olympics.

Joshua clinched a 17-16 triumph after Savon dominated the opening exchanges. The Cuban landed a stinging combination on Joshua early on, before the Brit retaliated with a heavy right-hand blow.

After taking the opening round 6-5, Joshua looked to assert his authority as he connected with arguably the biggest hit of the bout with a thunderous right hook. Savon, the nephew of three-time heavyweight medal winner Felix Savon, then responded with two fierce right-hand hooks of his own to narrow the margin.

Joshua took a two-point advantage into the final round, but appeared to be shaken by another Savon right hand midway through the round. The Brit held on in the closing stages to move within one victory of a podium finish.

Joshua's next opponent will be China's Zhilei Zhang, who stopped Australia's Johan Linde in the second round.

Earlier, Luke Campbell became the first boxer from Team GB into the quarter-finals following his 11-9 victory over Jahyn Parrinello in the bantamweight division. Campbell will now face Bulgaria's Detelin Dalakliev, who he defeated at the recent European and World Championships.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices