KEY POINTS

  • The 22-year-old progressed into the next round of the welterweight division.
  • Lawrence Okolie, Anthony Fowler and Galal Yafai all lost their bouts.

British boxer Joshua Kelly won on his Olympic debut on Tuesday (9 August), defeating Egypt's Walid Mohamed via a unanimous decision to reach the last 16 of the welterweight division. The 22-year-old produced an impressive performance to ease himself into the next stage of the boxing competition in Rio.

However, three of his teammates, Lawrence Okolie, Anthony Fowler and Galal Yafai, all lost their bouts. Okolie faced the toughest task of the three as he was paired against Cuba's Erislandy Savon, who is the nephew of Olympic icon Felix Savon.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Okolie – who impressed in his opening contest against Poland's Igor Jakubowski – was easily defeated by the pre-fight favourite. Savon floored the Briton in the first round in Rio, and although he survived until the end of the fight, the Cuban eventually claimed a one-sided decision.

Fowler, meanwhile, was outpointed by middleweight Zharibek Alimkhanuly in last 32 stage in Brazil. The 25-year-old fighter, who is the cousin of former Liverpool and England footballer Robbie, could not recover after being dropped to the canvas in the second round.

Earlier in the day, Yafai was beaten by Joahnys Argilagos of Cuba in the last 16 of the light-flyweight division. The 23-year-old produced a credible performance, but could not quite match the brilliant 19-year-old and ultimately lost on points.