Old Cold War foes make it dark day for USA boxers

All three fighters lost to opponents from Russia and Cuba

I / London August 02, 2012, 9:52 IST

The lights went out on the United States' bright start to the boxing at the Olympics as all three fighters lost to opponents from old Cold War foes Russia and Cuba.

Joseph Diaz Junior lost a terrific bantamweight second round bout to Cuban world champion Lazaro Alvaro yesterday in what is likely to be his final bow on the amateur stage before turning professional.

His exit in the first bout of the day set the tone as heavyweight Michael Hunter II and inexperienced super heavyweight Dominic Breazeale lost to Russian duo Artur Beterbiev and Magomed Omarov respectively.

It leaves the USA with just four fighters from the nine who started out.

Having looked good to improve on their dreadful record of just one gold medal since the 1996 Games -- Andre Ward in 2004 -- those odds have shifted more towards them finishing without a medal for the second successive Games.

Diaz was extremely unfortunate with the Games draw as he and Alvaro are two of the highest-rated at their weight but the 19-year-old American, the youngest member of the team, took defeat in his stride.

"It's an unfortunate defeat but I went out there to put on a show which I succeeded in doing," said Diaz, who has been strongly linked with the 1992 lightweight Olympic champion Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

"Unfortunately I couldn' get the W (the win).

"He is a great fighter. He's a really great counterpuncher, really smart and I hope he gets the gold medal."