Alvarez Earns Second Consecutive Boxing Bronze at the 2016 Rio Games

2016 Rio Games

Lazaro Alvarez will have to settle for a second consecutive bronze medal…

The 25-year-old Cuban amateur boxer, the reigning world champion, lost to Brazil’s Robson Conceicao in the semifinals of the Men’s Light 60 kg competition at the 2016 Rio Games.

Lazaro Alvarez

Conceicao was down on the scorecard heading into the final 30 seconds before a flurry of punches overwhelmed Alvarez.

The Brazilian is now guaranteed an Olympic gold or silver in his third Games, while Alvarez takes bronze.

Lazaro Alvarez

At the 2012 London Games, Alvarez beat Joseph Diaz and Robenílson Vieira but lost to Ireland’s John Joe Nevin 14-19 and won Bronze.

Álvarez’s Run Ends with Boxing Bronze at the London Games

London Olympics 2012

Lázaro Álvarez Estrada won’t get the chance to fight for gold at the 2012 Olympic Games

The 21-year-old Cuban boxer—the reigning world champion and top seed in the men’s bantamweight draw at the London Games—suffered a 19-14 loss on Friday to Ireland’s John Joe Nevin, who will now face Great Britain’s Luke Campbell in Saturday’s gold medal match.

Lázaro Álvarez Estrada

Álvarez will have to settle for bronze, since all boxers who lose in the semifinal round are awarded bronze medals at the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Álvarez’s compatriot Yasnier Toledo Lopez will also have to settle for bronze.

The 22-year-old Cuban fighter lost to the Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachenko in the semifinals of the men’s light 60kg category.

But Cuba isn’t out of the running for boxing gold completely.

Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana will fight Mongolia’s Tugstsogt Nyambayar for gold in the men’s flyweight division, while the gold medalist in the light welterweight class will be determined in a match between second seed Denys Berinchyk of the Ukraine and Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo, who earlier in the tournament knocked off top-seeded Everton dos Santos Lopes of Brazil.