Where will the medals come from?...Russian pounds Ogoke out of medal zone

Team Nigerian officials watched in awe as yet another hope of a medal frittered in boxing where Russian Nadezda Torlopova pounded Edith Ogoke out of the medal zone. The Russian blew her away with devastating punches ending the fight on a pitiable note, 18-8.

Nigerians had heaped their hopes of a first medal on boxing after a splendid display by Ogoke in the first round where she dismissed her Azerbaijan opponent with beautiful flurry of punches.

But the taller Russian was at her best as she was physically and technically the master dominating the contest and scored repeatedly with her left jab and powerful hooks to the head of the shorter Nigerian.

The Nigerian bench was not helpful as they allowed Edith to continue clubbing with her left and right combinations, thereby exhausting her energy without points. The much experienced Russian with an equally superior bench picked her points, landing her points on target.

Some of the sucker punches rained on the Nigerian were deadly that she kissed the canvas in the third round but beat the mandatory count by the British umpire.

Both boxers came out smoking in the first round and shared points 3-3 as they studied each other. Thereafter, the Russian bench offered useful advise and the Russian romped into the lead in the second round 10 – 4. There was no looking back as the third set did not get better.

The Russian after knocking Edith down moved to 14 -6 in the third before and her unassailable points continued till the last round 18 -8. It was a pitiable evening in London.