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Top-seeded Oleksandr Usyk didn't breeze through the final this afternoon in the heavyweight division, but he outfought Italy's Clemente Russo in the third round, breaking an 8-8 tie and claiming a 14-11 victory to win the gold medal in London.
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Usyk, the top-rated heavyweight amateur in the world, lost the first round 3-1 to the Italian veteran, who used his craftiness (and not his hugging, either) to open up the early lead. But Usyk turned it up in the second round, outworking Russo to even it up at eight apiece, winning the round 7-5. In the third, Usyk was just too much for a tiring Russo, who had given his best effort and performance of the Olympics, but came up short against the top fighter in the division.
Bronze medals in the division went to Tervel Pulev of Bulgaria and Teymur Mammadov of Azerbaijan.
Men's Heavyweight (201 lbs/91kg) Medals
 |
Oleksandr Usyk |
Ukraine 
|
 |
Clemente Russo |
Italy 
|
 |
Tervel Pulev |
Bulgaria 
|
|
Teymur Mammadov |
Azerbaijan 
|