Ukraine stars in boxing semifinals

A victory by Vasyl Lomanchenko over a Cuban opponent Friday paced Ukraine to the best showing of any country during the Olympic boxing semifinals. The 20 fighters who reached the finals in the 10 weight classes came from 14 countries with Ukraine the only one to have three boxers left in the running for a gold medal. Lomanchenko defeated Cuba's Yanier Toledo Lopez in the lightweight division and will meet Soonchul Han of South Korea in the championship bout. Five boxing finals will be held on both Saturday and Sunday. Ukraine heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk also won his semifinal bout with a 21-5 whipping of Bulgaria's Tervel Pulev, setting up a gold medal confrontation with Clemente Russo of Italy. The other Ukrainian finalist will be light-welterweight Denys Berinchyk after he ousted Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg of Mongolia. Berinchyk will face Ronald Sotolongo of Cuba for the gold medal. Cuba advanced one other boxer to the finals, that being Robeisy Remirez Carranzana. He won a flyweight decision over Ireland's Michael Conlan and will meet Tugstsogt Nyambayar of Mongolia in the finals. China will win only one medal in boxing, that coming from Zou Shiming. He won a close decision in the light-flyweight class over Ireland's Paddy Barnes and will take on Kaeo Pongprayoon of Thailand for gold. The United States did not advance a single male boxer to the semifinals of these Olympics, but the American women won a gold and bronze medal. All of Friday's semifinal losers will receive bronze medals. Ukraine suffered one semifinal loss while Russia had three and Ireland, Cuba and Azerbaijan all had two.