GREG BEACHAM
Algerian judoka banned 10 years for refusing Olympic bout

By Greg Beacham Sep. 13, 2021 04:04 PM EDT
Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine has been banned from competition for 10 years by

Keyshawn Davis, from the United States,left is punched by Cuba's Andy Cruz during their men's lightweight 63-kg boxing gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Davis, Torrez can't end US men's boxing gold medal drought

By Greg Beacham Aug. 08, 2021 05:42 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Richard Torrez Jr. stared up at 6-foot-7 Bakhodir Jalolov and didn

Tareg Hamedi of Saudi Arabia reacts after losing following an injury to Sajad Ganjzadeh of Iran in their men's kumite +75kg gold medal bout for karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Olympic karate finishes with cinematic kick, downer ending

By Greg Beacham Aug. 07, 2021 11:05 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — The final bout of karate's Olympic debut seemed to have everything

Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak, hits the mat after a punch from Brazil's Hebert Sousa during their men's middleweight 75-kg boxing gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Knockout punch: Brazil's Sousa takes gold on spectacular KO

By Greg Beacham Aug. 07, 2021 05:48 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Hebert Sousa decisively lost each of the first two rounds in the

Richard Torrez Jr., of the United States, left, and Kamshybek Kunkabayev, of Kazakhstan, exchange punches during their super heavy weight +91kg semifinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
US boxers Davis, Torrez can get revenge, win gold medals

By Greg Beacham Aug. 07, 2021 04:46 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo Olympics are already the most successful since 2000 for

Cuba's Julio la Cruz celebrates his victory over Muslim Gadzhimagomedov, of the Russian Olympic Committee in the men's heavyweight 91-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Heavyweight La Cruz joins Cuban veterans' 2-time gold rush

By Greg Beacham Aug. 06, 2021 06:49 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Only six fighters had won gold medals in two weight classes in

Sandra Sanchez Jaime of Spain hugs her husband and coach Jesus del Moral after winning the women's kata final bout for Karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Sánchez leads first 3 champions in karate's Olympic debut

By Greg Beacham Aug. 05, 2021 09:42 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Sandra Sánchez was the perfect person to stand atop the medal

Albert Batyrgaziev, of the Russian Olympic Committee, right, connects with a punch to Duke Ragan, of the United States, during their final round feather weight 52-57kg final boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Batyrgaziev, Ragan make Olympic history for pro boxers

By Greg Beacham Aug. 05, 2021 05:54 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Albert Batyrgaziev became the first professional boxer to win an

Richard Torrez Jr., of the United States, right, lands a shot to the face of Kamshybek Kunkabayev, of Kazakhstan, during their super heavy weight +91kg semifinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Punching out of it: USA Boxing has Olympic revival in Tokyo

By Greg Beacham Aug. 04, 2021 06:13 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Richard Torrez Jr. went into the Olympic boxing ring Wednesday

A child sits in the Olympic rings on display outside the Olympic Stadium where the athletic events are underway at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
This isn't Cobra Kai: Karate finally makes Olympic debut

By Greg Beacham Aug. 04, 2021 03:32 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — The history of karate’s journey to the Olympics would make a

Britain's Pat McCormack left and Cuba's Roniel Iglesias react after their men's welterweight 69-kg boxing match men's welterweight 69-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Throwback champ Iglesias wins his 2nd boxing gold for Cuba

By Greg Beacham Aug. 03, 2021 08:18 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Roniel Iglesias simply appeared to be fighting on a higher level

Keno Machado, of Brazil, right, punches Benjamin Whittaker, of Great Britain, during their light heavy weight 81kg quarterfinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Dancing to gold? Boxer Whittaker is unlikely contender

By Greg Beacham Aug. 03, 2021 04:18 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Benjamin Whittaker knows his style of boxing usually doesn't work

Eliad Mourad, of France refuses to leave the ring after losing a men's super heavyweight over 91-kg boxing match against Britain's Frazer Clarke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
EXPLAINER: Why is there so much drama in Olympic boxing?

By Greg Beacham Aug. 02, 2021 01:50 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — When Mourad Aliev sat on the boxing ring apron at the Kokugikan

Eliad Mourad, of France talks to Britain's Frazer Clarke after being disqualified during a men's super heavyweight over 91-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
French boxer sits on ring apron in protest after DQ loss

By Greg Beacham Aug. 01, 2021 01:28 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — A French super heavyweight boxer sat on the Olympic ring apron in

Ireland's Aidan Walsh, left, reacts after defeating Merven Clair, of Mauritius, Aidan Walsh, of Ireland, left, and Merven Clair, of Mauritius, in their welter weight 69kg quarterfinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Irish boxer injures ankle celebrating win, out of Olympics

By Greg Beacham Jul. 31, 2021 10:21 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Aidan Walsh has been forced out of his semifinal bout at the Tokyo

Members of Japan's team pose with their silver medals after the medal ceremony in team judo competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Judo team carries Japan to record-setting Olympic start

By Greg Beacham Jul. 31, 2021 09:28 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Although these Olympics have been plagued by unprecedented

Mbagnick Ndiaye of Senegal, left, and Tamerlan Bashaev of the Russian Olympic Committee compete during their men's +100kg elimination round judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Judo star Teddy Riner misses gold mark, satisfied by bronze

By Greg Beacham Jul. 30, 2021 12:53 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Although Teddy Riner has already summited almost every peak in

Japan's Sena Irie reacts after winning her women's featherweight 57-kg boxing match against Romania's Maria Nechita at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, Pool)
Olympic women's boxing is bigger, deeper, better in Tokyo

By Greg Beacham Jul. 29, 2021 12:50 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — About 15 minutes after Nesthy Petecio clinched the Philippines'

Columbia's Ingrit Lorena Valencia Victoria, left, exchanges punches with India's Chungneijang Mery Kom Hmangte during their women's flyweight 51-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Boxer Mary Kom won't rule out Olympic future after loss

By Greg Beacham Jul. 29, 2021 08:01 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Although Indian boxer Mary Kom is out of her second Olympics after

New Zealand's David Nyika, right, lands a punch to Youness Baalla, of Morocco, during their heavy weight (91kg) preliminary boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/ Frank Franklin II)
Moroccan Olympic boxer tries to take a bite out of opponent

By Greg Beacham Jul. 27, 2021 07:35 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — A heavyweight boxer from Morocco apparently tried to take a bite