The women boxers got Friday’s evening session under way at Riocentro Pavilion 6, with Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia defeating the Central African Republic’s invitational boxer Judith Mbougnade by technical knockout after a heavy blow in the third round caused the referee to end the bout.

France’s Sarah Ourahmoune was several inches shorter than her opponent Zohra Ez Zahraoui, but evaded the Moroccan’s longer reach for the majority of the bout while landing some heavy blows to earn a comprehensive victory and set up a Quarter-Final tie with Kazakhstan second-seed Zhaina Shekerbekova.

The second of the day’s tripartite invitational boxers was the Federated States of Micronesia’s Jennifer Chieng. Facing Mikaela Mayer of the USA in a tough Olympic debut, Chieng was far from overraught, posing Mayer plenty of problems early, but the American’s physical superiority showed as the contest went on, earning a last eight showdown against Russia’s former World Champion Anastasiia Beliakova.

The Australian fans gave Shelley Watts a rousing reception as she went into the ring against Italy’s former Youth World Champion Irma Testa. The tough Italian emerged victorious from a draining encounter as Watts threw everything at her in the final minutes, and Testa now has until Monday to restore her energies for a tricky Quarter-Final against French World Champion Estelle Mossely.

Two more men’s Lightweight (60kg) Semi-Finalists were then confirmed, as first Mongolian third-seed Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu looked in impressive form overcoming Algeria’s Reda Benbaziz, before France’s Sofiane Oumiha battled his way past Azerbaijan’s former World Champion Albert Selimov to guarantee himself a podium finish.

Four Middleweight (75kg) bouts completed the 14th session of Rio 2016 Boxing, with Russia’s Artem Chebotarev and Azerbaijan’s Kamran Shakhsuvarly vying for a place in the last eight. The Azeri’s positive start saw him through a frenetic contest, and he was joined by Mexico’s Misael Rodriguez, winner by walkover against Ireland’s Michael O’Reilly.

Egyptian medal hope Hosam Abdin again looked sharp as he defeated Cameroon 18 year-old Dieudonne Seyi Ntsengue, before India’s Krishan Shivas outscored Turkey’s Onder Sipal. The session was complete as Uzbekistan’s 2015 World Championship silver medalist Bektemir Melikuziev beat Australian Daniel Lewis by unanimous decision.

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