Pavilion 6 venue for boxing at Rio
Tony Yoka of France edged out Joe Joyce of Team GB on a split decision to secure a unique double for Les Bleus in the last bout of Rio 2016 tonight.
Yoka, who is engaged to his French team-mate Estelle Mossely – who claimed gold in the women’s lightweight class in Rio -, earned a unanimous decision in the super heavy division.
Both Yoka and Mossely are also current World Elite champions in their respective weights.
The 273rd and final fight of Rio 2016 between Yoka and Joyce was a meandering affair with neither dominating the battle of the big men. Joyce was certainly the busier of the two, but Yoka’s cleaner shots swayed the judges.
Uzbekistan claimed two gold medals tonight to match Cuba with three top of the podium finishes.
However, the Uzbeks have also won two silver gongs and look like topping the medals table for the first time after today’s impressive double.
Claressa Shields of the USA won her second Olympic title in the middleweight class this evening. Shields beat Holland’s Nouchka Fontijn.
Fontijn lost out to Cork’s Christina Desmond in an Olympic qualifier earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Team Ireland will take part in tonight’s official closing ceremony. Team Ireland are due to arrive home Wednesday from Rio.
B O’Neill