Tokyo 2020: Two more boxing medals in the bag for Team GB as Pat McCormack and Ben Whittaker book spots in semi-finals
PAT McCormack and Ben Whittaker guaranteed GB two more boxing medals on another stunning morning in the ring.
Welterweight world number one McCormack survived a cut eye to keep big-hitting Uzbek at bay.
Then light-heavyweight Whittaker did the business in the third to squeeze out a narrow win over Brazil’s Keno Machado.
And Caroline Dubois stayed on course for the podium by ending American Rashida Ellis’s Olympic dream.
Top seed McCormack knew he was in for a battle Baturov and ended with a weeping wound over his right eye after an accident butt.
It was a clash of styles with Baturov’s front foot approach contrasting with McCormack’s counter-punching and while the Sunderland slugger appeared to show far more quality he only took the first with three of the judges.
McCormack was looking to pick off his opponents as he lunged into range, making Baturov miss and then seizing the opportunity to land.
The judges agreed, meaning McCormack only had to stay on his feet to make the last four and a showdown with Aidan Walsh of Ireland on Sunday.
But a clash of heads opened up a cut over McCormack’s right eye, giving Baturov a final opportunity and he threw the kitchen sink at it, with the Brit staying out of trouble sufficiently to gain a 4-1 verdict.
Wolverhampton light heavy Whittaker opted to try to command from the middle of the ring against the Brazil.
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He did enough in the first but rounds after two rounds of a scrappy affair each boxer was ahead with one judge and the other three dead level.
Machado thought he had won at the end, Whittaker did not know.
But the verdict went Whittaker’s way, leaving him shedding tears, to earn a fight with big-hitting Russian Imam Khataev – who has stopped one opponent sand knocked out another – in Sunday’s semi.
Dubois took an incredibly tight and hugely controversial last 16 clash with Ellis to set up a fight for a guaranteed medal with Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee on Tuesday.
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The Londoner, 20, edged the opener with three of the judges and despite shipping an early right in the second, was given it by four of them.
It meant Dubois was well clear on two cards, with the other three dead level.
But at the start of the third, Ellis, who struck Dubois twice when holding her, was deducted a point for landing another blow after being told to break.
That was crucial, with the final tally bringing Dubois the verdict with three of the officials and the other two level.
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