LIVERPOOL, England – It was all about the super heavyweights (+90kg) on day two of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England.
The big men boxed Friday in front of a big crowd at the M&S Bank Arena during the evening session and certainly delivered. One of the standout performers was USA’s Kelvin Watts who defeated Algirdas Baniulis by a 4-1 split decision. Watts was the only winner for Team USA on day two as both Alyssa Mendoza (57kg) and Morelle McCane (65kg) were beaten by Colombia’s Valeria Arboleda Mendoza and England’s Sam Hickey respectively.
England had another successful day with super heavyweight Damar Thomas dominating in his unanimous decision victory over Kyrgyzstan's Myrzakir Koshaliev. Thomas impressed with his southpaw jab and fast feet, easily outpointing Koshaliev over the three rounds. English middleweight (75kg) Callum Makin also picked up a good win in his home city against Croatia’s Petar Kresimir Knezevic. Makin was punch perfect in the first, but had to dig in late in the second to secure the win before cruising to victory in the third. Reece Readshaw fought hard to pick up a win for England in the 50kg category.
One of the headline names at the tournament was on show today. Julio Cesar La Cruz, a two-time Olympic and five-time Worlds gold medalist, was competing in the +90kg division, having previously competed at 80kg and 91kg, during his two Olympic campaigns. La Cruz didn’t quite have the same movement up at super heavyweight, but still managed to ease past Azerbaijan's Mahammad Abdullayev, and will surely be favorite to win his sixth Worlds gold.
Full list of results from day two: