At the end of 13 days of the Tokyo Olympics, the Russian boxing team won one gold and three bronze medals - exactly the same number as five years ago at the Games in Rio de Janeiro.

But the difference was that the tournament in Ryōgoku Kokugikan was not over yet, and on Friday the piggy bank of the national team was guaranteed to be replenished.

Zenfira Magomedalieva was the first to enter the ring. She fought to reach the final in the weight category up to 75 kg and secured herself at least a bronze medal - the only medal for Russian girls this year. The 33-year-old athlete from Dagestan twice became the world champion in her career, but both times won victories in heavier weights than in the one adopted at the Olympics.

Her rival in the semifinals, her main successes achieved just in middleweight and did not train to compete in Tokyo. Chinese Li Qian won both the 2018 World Cup and the bronze at the last Olympics in Rio. At her second Games, the 31-year-old was clearly energized to improve her performance. In two fights before the meeting with Magomedalieva, she won by unanimous decision. Only twice in the entire tournament did one of the referees decide in one round to give preference not to her, but to an opponent.

At the beginning of the first round, the Russian woman tried to take the initiative to her own hands, since Li Qian for some time only ran from her with her hands down. From the first attacks of Magomedalieva, it was noticeable that she beat much harder and hoped to crush her opponent with just one heavy blow. However, this plan did not work. The Chinese woman kept her distance, met her opponent well and, if necessary, responded with sharp and quick blows. Although Zenfira was the number one boxer, the judges preferred Li Qian.

The second round began with the fact that Magomedalieva stumbled on her opponent's fist and took a couple of steps back towards the center of the ring. As before, all her attempts to crush the Chinese woman did not bring success, the same one invariably responded with dignity, and the judges, with all their desire, could not have a reason to say that this three-minute remained with the Russian woman. However, in the middle of the segment, Magomedalieva had a chance to change the situation. The referee removed a point from the Chinese woman for holding, and at that time the score between them was equal. The Russian athlete immediately threw out a good jab, from which Li Qian even bent over.

But they failed to build on the success.

At the end of the round, Magomedalieva was already punished for a similar violation.

For her late involvement in the fight, the judges again gave dozens of Li Qian in their cards.

The Russian woman still counted on the fact that one of her blows would knock her opponent down, and she almost achieved her goal - Li Qian again bent over and once found herself on the floor.

But in both episodes there was not even a knockdown.

The Chinese woman immediately returned to the battle and showed very good mobility for the last round.

After the fight, the judges announced the verdict - Li Qian reached the final by unanimous decision, and Magomedalieva became the bronze medalist.

She became the fourth Russian boxer to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

  • Zenfira Magomedalieva and Li Qian

  • Reuters

  • © Themba Hadebe

The last chance to finish the tournament on a positive note remained with Muslim Gadzhimagomedov, who was waiting for the final fight in the weight category up to 91 kg.

The 24-year-old boxer had to confirm the title of the reigning world champion and compete for the second gold for the Russian team.

At any other tournament, Gadzhimagomedov could really be considered the clear favorite, but not this time.

In the final, he was opposed by the Cuban Julio Cesar la Cruz - practically the legend of amateur boxing.

From 2011 to 2017, he won all four world championships and became the Olympic champion in Rio, adding then to all his titles the bronze of the world championship in Yekaterinburg.

But la Cruz collected his rich collection of awards in light heavyweight up to 81 kg, and intended to become a two-time Olympic champion in heavyweight.

In the entire history of boxing, only eight athletes managed to win gold in two different categories. Interestingly, one of them - the American Oliver Kirk - even did it as part of one Olympics in 1904. It was the Cubans who managed to adapt to the new weight and win the main award in amateur boxing, and one of them has already achieved this in Tokyo. Arlen Lopez became the Olympic champion in the light heavyweight category, from which La Cruz went up for the promotion before his second Olympics.

Gadzhimagomedov was not going to put up with the fact that a boxer suddenly appeared on his field, claiming gold. The native of Dagestan actively started the final fight and took the center of the ring. He used to fight the first number and once paid for it with a strong jab from La Cruz, but otherwise the Cuban did not create any problems. Gadzhimagomedov often hit from a distance, and the Cuban was only enough for one more counter-attack. By the end of the round, he even dropped his hands. But the judges, examining these three minutes, were pretty surprised by their decision - almost all of them gave preference to la Cruz.

In the second round, the dominance of the Russian boxer became even more noticeable. La Cruz only ran from him and did not respond to the blows, which Gadzhimagomedov did not skimp on. Once, after his powerful combination, the Cuban nearly fell to the floor, but escaped in time in a clinch. At the last minute, la Cruz nevertheless perked up and showed his trademark left hand, but Gadzhimagomedov not only was not afraid of him, but was also able to knock down his opponent. True, la Cruz caught on the rope and avoided an obvious knockdown. This time, the judges again preferred the Cuban's beautiful retreat.

La Cruz never stopped dancing in the third round. Now his plan for the battle really began to work - it became difficult for Gadzhimagomedov to reach, all his blows were passing or passing by. Once the Russian still locked the Cuban in the corner and dropped him again. However, even here there was not that saving knockdown that allowed hoping for gold. Gadzhimagomedov suffered his first defeat since 2017 and became the silver medalist, and the Cuban boxers got the third gold of the Tokyo Olympics. After the fight, the Russian boxer promised to continue performing in order to win a more valuable award next time.

“They didn’t raise their hand, so I’ve lost. I thought I was more active, dominated, hit the body. The Cuban boxer, one might say, did not box, but moved around the ring. He himself did not beat and gave me a beat. I sometimes got him on the body, scored points. Unfortunately, they didn’t give me the victory in this fight, ”Gadzhimagomedov told Sport-Express. - There is no particular desire to wear this medal. We went here for gold. Of course, I will not throw it out, it will be among other medals at home. But not among the gold ... There is a desire to box to Paris. I want revenge, but now it's impossible. I think in time we will meet and fight him again. "