Julio Cesar La Cruz's quest for third gold foiled

PARIS -- Cuba's two-time Olympic champion Julio Cesar La Cruz fell short in his bid to win a third gold medal and was eliminated from the men's heavyweight competition on Sunday, while Jack Marley won to spare Ireland's blushes.

Cesar La Cruz, light heavyweight champion at the 2016 Rio Games and heavyweight champion five years later in Tokyo, was hoping to become only the fourth boxer to win three Olympic gold medals alongside Teofilo Stevenson, Felix Savon and Lazlo Papp.

In his way was Cuban-born Loren Alfonso of Azerbaijan. In an enthralling clash, Alfonso remained on the back foot and timed his shots better to edge the result, but there was little to separate the two by the final bell.

Later Sunday, heavyweight Marley gave Ireland something to cheer for after a run of disappointing results.

Dean Clancy's loss on Day 1 at the North Paris Arena on Saturday was followed by defeats for Aidan Walsh and Grainne Walsh.

European Games silver medalist Marley, the last of Ireland's three boxers to fight on the day, snapped the losing streak with a 4-1 win over Mateusz Bereznicki, beating the Pole for a third time in the past two years.

"It's an individual sport. I'm always going to take it as an individual," Marley said.

"But they are my very good close friends, and I was 10 times more nervous watching them yesterday than I was for my own self today. I'm delighted to give us a little bit of positivity today."

Great Britain was less successful, with Rosie Eccles and Patrick Brown both losing to add to Charley Davison's defeat from Saturday.

Heavyweight Brown was dealt serious punishment by Brazil's World Championships silver medalist Keno Machado, but the fight between welterweight Eccles and Aneta Rygielska was much closer, with the decision split 3-2 in the Pole's favor.

"I knew I'd won the fight. So, I'm really, really shocked," Eccles said through tears.

"I've given my whole life for a gold medal in the Olympics, or at least an Olympic medal to take home. Unfortunately for me, it just wasn't meant to be. And my poor teammate Charley yesterday as well, she experienced the same thing."

Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen subdued German opponent Maxi Kloetzer and clinched a unanimous win in the flyweight division, while 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medalist Ingrit Valencia of Colombia eased to a win over Mongolia's Oyuntsetsegiin Yesugen.

Palestinian featherweight Wasim Abusal lost his opening bout, as did Samoan heavyweight Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, whose coach died earlier this week.

--Reuters, Special to Field Level Media