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By Luke Baker in Tokyo — Ben Whittaker’s dad gained’t let him again house with out an Olympic medal, so it’s in all probability for the most effective that the sunshine heavyweight boxer acquired his Tokyo 2020 marketing campaign below means with a powerful victory.
After real medal prospect Peter McGrail’s shock first-round exit from the featherweight division on day one, Staff GB’s boxers wanted a pick-me-up and Whittaker offered it 24 hours later.
Dealing with harmful Colombian Jorge Luis Vivas Palacios within the final 32 of the lads’s gentle heavyweight class, the Brit confirmed management to earn a factors victory – 4 judges giving him the nod and only one preferring Vivas Palacios on the playing cards.
It’s simply step one for Whittaker, who has his sights set on the rostrum – if solely to make sure he’s allowed again to his hometown of Darlaston within the West Midlands by his dad – however he was happy to shake off the cobwebs.
“There was slightly little bit of ring rust but it surely was vital to get the primary one out of the best way,” stated the 24-year-old, who subsequent faces Egypt’s Abdelrahman Oraby within the final 16 on Wednesday.
“We had a type of days as a squad yesterday the place we gained one [women’s featherweight Karriss Artingstall] and misplaced one [McGrail] so it was a bit upsetting, however you must simply push on.
“My dad stated to me earlier than I left that for those who don’t get a medal, particularly the gold, then I ought to keep right here!
“To be sincere I adore it right here, so I really wouldn’t thoughts, however I do know I’ve acquired to return to the West Midlands with one thing shiny.”
Sunday additionally noticed British last-32 success within the males’s light-weight for Luke McCormack and the ladies’s flyweight for Charley Davison.
McCormack earned a powerful factors win over Manish Kaushik, whereas Davison was supreme in a unanimous factors conquer Rabab Cheddar. Davison – who took seven years away from boxing to have three kids, earlier than returning to the game in 2019 – is focusing on gold, if solely to get one over London 2012 bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo, who’s from her hometown of Lowestoft.
“He’s from the identical membership as me, it’s nice to place Lowestoft on the map once more,” smiled Davison. “It’s solely a small city so to have two Olympians is nice.
“I’m right here for the gold, so I’ve acquired to get one up on him! But it surely’s nice for our small city to have two Olympians.”
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