site.btaBulgaria's Boxer Javier Ibanez Diaz Defeats Ukraine’s Aider Abduraimov, Qualifies for Quarterfinals

Bulgaria's Javier Ibanez Diaz qualified for the quarterfinals of the Olympic boxing tournament in the men’s 57 kg division on Wednesday.

The Cuban-born No. 2 seed won his debut bout against Ukraine’s Aider Abduraimov, who is a two-time European junior champion. The European Games champion, Ibanez Diaz, showed his class, defeating his 20-year-old opponent, 5:0 (30:27, 30:27, 30:27, 30:27, 30:27, 30:27).

Ibanez Diaz is now one more win away from securing at least a bronze medal. On August 3, he will face the No. 7 seed, Harada Shudai, who is the runner-up at the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games in 2023.

Ibaniez Diaz became the third Bulgarian boxer to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Olympic boxing tournament after Stanimira Petrova reached this stage in the women's up to 54 kg on Tuesday and Rami Kiwan in the men's 75 kg earlier on Wednesday.