Olympic boxing: Pat McCormack wins light-welterweight debut at Rio 2016
Friday 12 August 2016 00:11, UK
Pat McCormack looked calm and collected as he won his first fight at Rio 2016, out-classing Ablaikhan Zhussupov of Kazakhstan.
The British light-welterweight was handed a split decision success after a comfortable performance winning with scores of 30-27 28-29 30-27, perhaps not doing the 21-year-old's full justice.
McCormack has been the Lionhearts' shining light this year and took it on to the biggest stage of all at the Riocentro Pavilion and on the back of Joshua Buatsi's cracking knockout, looked in complete control.
The round-of-32 bout started off as a nerve-settler and range-finding affair, but the moment Zhussupov sprang forward, McCormack's right met him on the way in.
A right-left combination down the barrel showed the latest prospect from the Birtley ABC was happy to push his man back. One right landed perfecfly with Zhussupov rocked on one foot.
The second round saw a far more offensive approach and a perfect straight right was the shot of the fight, stunning his young Kazahkstan opponent, whose balance left him for a moment.
It was the right that closed the round with all three judges giving it 10-9 to McCormack and the third and final proved that he can box with discipline even with plenty of north east supporters urging him on.
Zhussupov knew he was up against it and stayed on the front foot but with the movement and a couple more left-right combinations catching him on the way in, Team GB were heading for a fifth fighter to make it past his opening fight.
The one scare saw McCormack caught open and was punished with a quick double, but it was a rare mistake in an mature and technically precise performance.
McCormack will be back in action on Sunday, when he takes on the highly-rated Yasnier Toledo of Cuba, who won the lightweight bronze in London 2012, has two silvers from the World Amatuer Championships and golds in the Pan American and Central American and Caribbean games.
