By Jake Donovan
Ukraine was already all but guaranteed one boxing Gold medal with the world's best amateur - regardless of weight class - Vasyl Lomachenko in queue for Sunday's lightweight championship.
Oleksandr Usyk provided an insurance policy for the nation, gaining revenge on Italy's Clemente Russo to win the heavyweight division in Saturday evening's finals, 14-11.
The bout was a rematch to the 2008 Olympic heavyweight quarterfinals, in which Usyk came up one fight short of a medal. History threatened to repeat itself as Russo - who has struggled throughout this year's competition - offered his best round of the tournament in taking an early lead.
Usyk woke up in the second round, in which full order was restored. The offensive explosion by the Ukrainian heavyweight turned up the heat by a considerable margin. However, Russo was up to the task, even going punch-for-punch with his superior-skilled opponent for much of the frame. His marginal lead disappeared, but the Italian's brave showing was enough to keep the score level heading into the final round.
The last three minutes as a whole provided the final margin of victory, but it wasn't until the very end in which Usyk truly took the lead. The competitive action was a welcome finale to a rough bracket that bore witness to several controversial decisions and an even greater number of ugly fights.
Saturday's championship deviated from that script, as the scoring was accurate and the action was steady throughout.
Russo is now a two-time Silver medalist, having also come up short in the final round of the 2008 Beijing Games. He is one of two fighters to earn medals for Team Italy, with super heavyweight Roberto Cammarelle favored to earn his second Gold medal after having come up aces in the 2008 Beijing Games.
Usyk is one of four fighters to medal for Ukraine. Two bronze medals currently rest on the mantle, with another Gold expected to be added after Lomachenko is through fighting on Sunday.
No matter what happens in that bout, Ukraine can turn to Usyk as its first Gold medalist for this year's boxing squad - sure thing or not.
HEAVYWEIGHT FINALS (Gold Medal Round - Saturday, August 11)
Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine) def. Clemente Russo (Italy), 14-11
* Usyk wins Gold; Russo takes Silver.
HEAVYWEIGHT SEMIFINALS (Medal Round - Friday, August 10)
Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine) def. Tervel Pulev (Bulgaria), 21-5
Clemente Russo (Italy) def. Teymer Mammadov (Azerbaijan), 15-13
* Pulev and Mammadov share Bronze medal honors.
QUARTERFINALS (Sunday, August 5)
Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine) def. Artur Beterbiyev (Russia), 17-13
Tervel Pulev (Bulgaria) def. Yamil Peralta (Argentina), 13-10
Teymur Mammadov (Azerbaijan) def. Siarhei Karneyeu (Belarus), 19-19 (countback)
Clemente Russo (Italy) def. Jose Larduet (Cuba), 12-10
HEAVYWEIGHT ROUND OF 16 RESULTS (Wednesday, August 1)
Artur Beterbiyev (Russia) def. Michael Hunter, 10-10 (countback)
Tervel Pulev (Bulgaria) def. Xuanxuan Wang (China), 10-7
Yamil Peralta (Argentina) def. Chouaib Boulodinat (Algeria), 13-5
Teymur Mammadov (Azerbaijan) def. Jei Opetaia (Australia), 12-11
Siarhei Karneyeu (Belarus) def. Juan Castillo (Ecuador), 21-12
Jose Larduet (Cuba) def. Ali Mazaheri (Iran), DQ-2
Clemente Russo (Italy) def. Tumba Silva (Angola), Walkover (Silva no-show for weigh-in)
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter:
@JakeNDaBox
