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Olympic boxing: Joshua Buatsi makes quarter-finals by stopping Rasulov

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British boxer Joshua Buatsi knocked out third seed Elshod Rasulov to reach the quarter-finals in the 81kg category

Joshua Buatsi sent a message to his Olympic light-heavyweight rivals by producing a devastating knockout of third seed Elshod Rasulov to cruise into the quarter-finals.

Having halted Uganda's Kennedy Katende in his opening bout, the 23-year-old Buatsi lit up Rio once again as he out-muscled the third-seeded Elshod Rasulov before producing a truly ruthless finish in the final round.

Buatsi, who is with the South Norwood & Victory Boxing Club, began positively and immediately looked to establish his rangy orthodox jab - eventually adding a right hand that seemed to momentarily disorganise his opponent.

Great Britain's Joshua Buatsi (L) lands a hook on Uzbekistan's Elshod Rasulov during the Men's Light Heavy (81kg) match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at th
Image: Great Britain's Joshua Buatsi (L) lands a hook on Uzbekistan's Elshod Rasulov

The experienced Rasulov remained on the outside but was unable to maintain his preferred distance as Buatsi forced his way inside and threw a big right hand that only missed by a small margin. Intelligently, the youngster then switched his focus downstairs.

There were warning signs towards the end of the opener as Rasulov reeled off a trio of one-twos and then a sweet uppercut to put himself in with a chance of pinching the session, but it was not enough in the mind of the two of the three judges.

Joshua Buatsi of Great Britain ( blue) knocks out Eishoot Rasulov of Uzbekistan  (red)  in their Mens Light Heavyweigh
Image: Joshua Buatsi (R) is into the Olympic light-heavyweight quarter-finals

Buatsi continued to impose his physicality on Rasulov in the second and the referee began to lose patience with the World Championship silver medallist, who seemed keen to smother Buatsi's attempts to exchange.

The wily Rasulov did have some success with an ambitious left counter off the ropes but he was soon caught off-balance by a solid-looking straight right from Buatsi, who appeared to be outgunning his more celebrated foe into the third. 

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Joshua Buatsi was at it again with another Olympic knockout
Image: Joshua Buatsi was at it again with another Olympic knockout

With the 30-year-old Rasulov knowing he needed something special, he finally began to leave himself open to meaningful engagement and it proved his downfall; Buatsi producing a textbook range-finding jab and thunderous right to follow, knocking his man down.

Rasulov was cut above the right eye and stumbled to the canvas in a daze soon after, but the third and final felling was the most impressive as Buatsi cleanly whipped home a trio of pinpoint hooks that left his man in a sorry state on the floor and the referee with no choice but to end the contest.

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