RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Lightweight Robson Conceicao won Brazil's first Olympic boxing gold medal Tuesday night, delighting a frenzied home crowd with a clear unanimous decision over France's Sofiane Oumiha.
The largest boxing crowd of the Olympics filled the arena with songs, cheers and foot-stomping craziness for Conceicao, who grew up poor in Salvador and channeled his aggression into his sport.
The 27-year-old three-time Olympian reached the peak of his skills just in time for his home games, storming through his bracket as the third seed and winning gold.
Brazil had won one silver and three bronze boxing medals in its modest Olympic boxing history, but Conceicao proved he deserved his gold with a strong performance against Oumiha.