Joe Joyce beats Ivan Dychko to set up bid for Rio gold
Last Updated: 20/08/16 12:02am
Joe Joyce is guaranteed at least silver at Rio 2016 after winning a unanimous decision over Ivan Dychko in the super-heavyweight semi-finals.
Joyce stayed on course to succeed Anthony Joshua as the division's Olympic champion, coming from behind to set up a Sunday gold medal bid against world champion Tony Yoka of France.
Dychko was beaten at the same stage by Joshua four years ago, but he took the first round on all three judges' cards, using nimble footwork to move in and out of range as he landed stiff jabs.
But there were signs of the Kazakh tiring towards the end of the opener as Joyce began to walk him down, and Dychko was blowing early in the second having taken a couple of right uppercuts to the body.
Joyce continued to employ the tactic as the round wore on and landed with an overhand right to cement the decision on all three cards, leaving it even heading into the decider.
There was no respite for Dychko, Joyce's relentless forward movement earning him countless opportunities to land punishing body shots, while a switch of attack opened up a cut under his opponent's right eye.
By the end both men were visibly tired and missing, but Joyce had done his job and took the round on all three cards.
Earlier Frenchman Yoka, who beat Joyce in the semi-finals of last year's World Championships, won a split decision over Croatia's Filip Hrgovic.
Joyce said: "I've beaten Yoka before and he avenged that defeat so it's my time again. He will be on the back foot trying to be smart, and it will be my job to pick him off again.
"It was a tough first round. He was very quick and mobile and was keeping me on the end of his jab so it was hard to close him down.
"But in the second I began to close him down better and was catching him. I was picking him off as he was tiring, and he couldn't keep up with three rounds like I can.
"The final is what I'm here for but I don't let it get to me too much."
