BOXING:  A stinging right hook in the middle stages of the second round has paved the way for Cameron Hammond to advance to the Round of 16 in the welterweight division.

Hammond, who made a slow start, hit his opponent from Nigeria with a series of telling blows in round 2 that forced the referee to call a standing eight count.

Hammond was locked at 2 points all after the first round but won the second round by 5 points to 2. He went on to won by 13 points to 6.

Hammond was pleased with the win despite the slow start.

“I was very nervous at the start but I settled down and felt good;” he said.

“I found him awkward to deal with but I had some good time in the ring and will take all of that into my next fight.”

Earlier, team captain Luke Jackson suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the men’s lightweight division.

The 27-year-old Tasmanian, who had previously announced this Olympic competition would be his last as a boxer, was always on the back foot against his Chinese opponent, trailing 4 points to 1 after the first round, and 10-3 after the second. He eventually went down 20 - 7.

Jackson was too disappointed to speak after the fight, and head coach Don Abnett said he will take the loss hard.

“Jacko is our leader and really wanted to do well in this competition,” Abnett said.

“He just couldn’t find his range at all during the fight.

“He had to take a few risks in the final round and as a result suffered a bigger loss than he should have.

All eyes on day three of the boxing program will be on Queenslander Damien Hooper, who begins his quest for light heavyweight glory.

Hooper takes on the well regarded American Marcus Browne in the final bout of the session.

The other Aussie in action is Jackson Woods in the flyweight division.

Damian Kelly in London
olympics.com.au