_1620275203.jpg)
Pick It: Olympic Boxing (NBCOlympics.com/USA, Check Listings)
A US team of ten boxers, five men and five women, has whittled down to four as the Tokyo Olympics hits the home stretch. On the men’s side, lightweight Keyshawn Davis and super heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. have advanced to the semi-finals while welterweight Oshae Jones has guaranteed the team its fourth women’s medal since women began competing in 2012. Featherweight Duke Ragan secured a place in the gold medal match on Monday night. Ragan and Davis suspended their nascent pro careers for a chance at the podium; none of the four came to settle for bronze.
While USA network has been okay in terms of showing most of the US fights, and some other highlighted bouts, there have also been occasions where only a single round was shown. Fans who want to see the action live are better off online. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, Jones and Torrez will seek to punch their way to the final. Jones’ semi-final is scheduled for 1:48 AM EST with Torrez not long after at 2:18 AM. Ragan’s gold medal match will go live at 2:35 AM EST on Thursday. Viewers should note start times have not been exact so those who wish to watch live should be online a little earlier than start times. For those content with what gets to TV, USA replays start around 3:00 PM EST daily but it varies so check the listings.
Enjoy the Games and continue to check in regularly at BoxingScene for Jake Donovan’s best in the world Olympic boxing coverage.
Additional Shows to Watch For
Tuesday – TBRB #7 Hunter vs. Wilson (FITE, 7:00 PM EST)
From current Olympians to former Olympians, we have early week action and it’s free to view. 33-year old 2012 Olympian Michael Hunter (19-1-1, 13 KO) is unbeaten since a 2017 loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2017. He will continue his drive for a heavyweight title shot against Mike Wilson (21-1, 10 KO) in the main event.
Friday – Conlan vs. Doheny (ESPN+, 3:00 PM EST)
29-year old two-time Olympian, 2012 bronze medalist, and 2015 World amateur champion Michael Conlan (15-0, 8 KO) is inching toward serious contention at Jr. featherweight. Conlan, of Northern Ireland, is the main event for this afternoon rumble and might be in the toughest pro start of his career. Conlan will face Ireland’s 34-year old TJ Doheny (22-2, 16 KO) in a crossroads fight for Doheny. The former IBF titlist enters off a loss in 2020 and can’t afford another. Whoever one is rooting for, Irish eyes should be smiling.
Saturday – Gogokhia vs. Papazov (ESPN+, 10:00 AM EST)
Georgia and Russia resume hostilities at the brunch hour stateside. 30-year old Jr. middleweight Enriko Gogokhia (13-0, 8 KO) has scored five straight knockouts. 36-year old Fedor Papazov (22-4, 13 KO) has never been stopped but has lost two his last three fights, including his most recent. Can Papazov batter Gogokhia off course?
Saturday – #4 Galahad vs. Dickens (DAZN, 2:00 PM EST)
One of the world’s best featherweights headlines from Fight Camp. 31-year old Kid Galahad (27-1, 16 KO) came oh so close to upsetting Josh Warrington for a belt two fights ago and his title chase continues. 30-year old James Dickens (30-3, 11 KO) lost in a title attempt against Guillermo Rigondeaux at Jr. featherweight in 2016 but enters with eight straight wins.
Saturday – Stanionis vs. Collazo (Fox, 8:00 PM EST)
26-year old Lithuanian welterweight Eimantas Stanionis (13-0, 9 KO) has the biggest stage of his pro career at the head of a snakebitten card that has found a way to stay together. He will face 40-year old Luis Collazo (39-8, 20 KO), one of the most experienced men in his class. Collazo has been stopped only twice, against Keith Thurman and in an early career clash almost twenty years ago. Can Collazo, once a dangerous spoiler, find a late career gem?
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]