Cuba Claims Two Gold Medals as Ramirez Tops Nyambayar
Aug 12, 2012 • 9:04 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
Cuba racked up eight medals in the 2008 Beijing Games but failed to place first in any weight class for the first time in two decades.
The boxing powerhouse now has two Gold medals in London after 18-year old Robeisy Ramirez took a 17-14 win over Tugstsogt Nyamybar of Mongolia in Sunday's flyweight finals.
Nyambayar became boxing's feel good story of the tournament, winning three straight upsets to advance to the finals. The biggest of the lot was a 15-11 shocker over top seed Misha Aloyan of Russia in Friday's semifinals.
Ramirez was given all that he could handle in this one, with little separation offered between the two. The opening round set the tone for a furiously-paced finale, with Nyambayar forcing a war on an afternoon where Ramirez was hoping to box.
A slight lead was enjoyed by Ramirez through one, but severely threatened in the second as Nyambayar went for broke. The Mongolian flyweight saw Gold in his sights and a chance to take the lead. His efforts weren't fully rewarded by the officials, settling for a 4-4 tie in the round and still trailing by one point heading into the final three minutes.
Unlike his previous three appearances, there would be no late surge from Nyambayar. Instead, it was Ramirez who would bite down and truly fight for the division's top prize. The Cuban boxer dictated the pace in the closing round, as Nyambayar slowed down by a considerable margin after giving Ramirez a scare through the first six minutes.
Cuba had already secured its first Gold medal of this year's competition when Roniel Iglesias took the prize in the light welterweight division. Ramirez now doubles the Gold count, giving Cuba four medals overall as the nation took bronze in bantamweight and lightweight.
Nyambayar's silver honors gives Mongolia its highest medal count in its history of Olympic participation. The nation has now won five medals overall, including two in boxing.
Both Mongolia and Cuba reduced its boxing medal count in half from four years ago. The difference between then and now for Mongolia is that it didn't have a story like Tugstsogt Nyambayar.
The difference between then and now is that Cuba restored in its rich tradition of coming home with Gold.
Flyweight Finals (Medal round - Sunday, August 12)
Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba) def. Tugstsogt Nyambayar (Mongolia), 17-14
* Ramirez wins Gold; Nyambayar takes Silver
Flyweight Semifinals (Medal round - Friday, August 10)
Tugstsogt Nyambayar (Mongolia) def. Misha Aloyan (Russia) , 15-11
Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba) def. Michael Conlan (Ireland), 20-10
* Aloyan and Conlan share Bronze medal honors
Flyweight Quarterfinals (Tuesday, August 7):
Misha Aloyan (Russia) def. Jeyvier Cintron (Puerto Rico), 23-13
Tugstsogt Nyambayar (Mongolia) def. Jasurbek Latipov (Uzbekistan), 15-10
Michael Conlan (Ireland) def. Nordine Oubaali, 22-18
Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba) def. Andrew Selby (Great Britain), 16-11
Round of 16 Matchups (Friday, August 3):
Misha Aloyan (Russia) def. Samir Brahimi (Algeria), 14-9
Jeyvier Cintron (Puerto Rico) def. Juliao Henriques Neto (Brazil), 18-13
Jasurbek Latipov (Uzbekistan) def. Hesham Abdelaal (Egypt), 21-11
Tugstsogt Nyambayar (Mongolia) def. Vincenzo Picardi (Italy), 17-16
Nordine Oubaali (France) def. Rau'shee Warren (United States), 19-18
Michael Conlan (Ireland) def. Duke Michah (Ghana), 19-8
Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba) def. Chatchai Butdee (Thailand), 22-10
Andrew Selby (Great Britain) def. Ilyas Suleimenov (Kazakhstan), 19-15
Flyweight - Round of 32 Results (Monday, July 30):
Samir Brahimi (Algeria) def. Jackson Darren Woods (Australia), 14-12
Juliao Henriques Neto (Brazil) def. Jong Chol Pak (North Korea), 12-8
Jeyvier Cintron (Puerto Rico) def. Oteng Oteng (Botswana), 14-12
Hesham Abdelaal (Egypt) def. Benson Njangiru (Kenya), 19-16
Tugstsogt Nyambayar (Mongolia) def. Elvin Mamishzada (Azerbaijan), 18-11
Nordine Oubaali (France) def. Ajmal Faisal (Afghanistan), 22-9
Duke Micah (Ghana) def. Jason Lavigilante (Mauritius), 18-14
Chatchai Butdee (Thailand) def. Selcuk Eker (Turkey), 34-10
Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba) def. Katsuaki Susa (Japan), 19-7
Ilyas Suleimenov (Kazakhstan) def. Salomo Ntuve (Sweden),
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter:@JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
