Cuban boxer César La Cruz Peraza, 34, was one of the surprises of the second day of Olympic boxing. He lost to Azerbaijan's Loren Berto Alfonso. The Cuban came close to joining two other Cuban boxing legends, Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon, and Hungary's Laszló Papp, who remains the only boxer with three Olympic gold medals.

La Cruz Peraza couldn't get the better of Berto Alfonso, who defeated him 3 to 2. The Cuban went into the North Arena as the favourite after winning two gold medals at Rio 2016 and the most recent at Tokyo 2020. However, he came up against a tough, resilient and daring opponent who found his level and distance, eventually knocking him out in the round of 16 at Paris 2024.

At the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Istanbul 2022 and New Delhi 2023, there were brilliant fights such as that of India's Zareen, who won two gold medals. She is one of the favourites for the Paris 2024 Games and defeated Mongolia's Yesugen Oyuntsetseg with a convincing 5-0.

One of the most exciting bouts in the North Arena came in the under-92kg category between Uzbekistan's Lazizbek Mullojonov and Italy's Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine. The rounds were closely contested and the power of the punches was remarkable, with the Uzbek boxer winning 4 to 1. 

At the end, the Italian pushed hard, knowing he could win the fight, and took risks. In the end, both fighters were left with bruises on their faces.

It was something special for Spain. Laura Fuertes was the first Spanish boxer to take part in the Olympic Games. The Spaniard qualified by breaking all the barriers in Spanish boxing. With determination and courage, she took on Mexico's Fatima Herrera. 

After an unsuccessful first round, she tried to move forward and look for a knockout or a very clear round to counter Herrera's hard punches. She didn't succeed and lost a split decision 3 to 2. Fuertes was not happy with the result as she thought the second round could have been hers. She didn't, but she made history for her country, Spain.

Colombia's Ingrid Lorena Valencia overwhelmed Mongolia's Yesugen Oyuntsetseg with a convincing 5-0 victory. The Colombian is another standout in the 50kg category. She is likely to face India's Zareen in the hunt for medals. Her dynamic and agile style of boxing is expected to bring Colombia success.

Day 2 results, 28 July. Preliminary phase: 

Men. 51 kg.

Omid Ahmadisafa (EOR) 0 Roscoe Hill (USA) 5 

Men. 71 kg. 

Damian Durkacz (POL) 0 Ramid Modif Kiwan (BUL) 5 

Makan Traore (FRA) 4 Aidan Walsh (IRL) 0 

Men. 92 kg. 

Olaitan Adam Olaore (NIG) 0 Aibek Oralbay (KAZ) 5 

Emanuelle Reyes (SPA) 4 Han Xuezhen (CHI) 1

Women. 50 kg. 

Maxi Corina Kletzer (GER) 0 Zareen Nikhat (IND) 5 

Yesugen Oyuntsetseg (MON) 0 Ingrid Lorena Valencia (COL) 5 

Women. 66 kg. 

Rossi Eccles (GB) 2 Aneta Rygielska (POL) 3 

Men. 57 kg. 

Aslanbek Shymbergenov (KAZ) 2 Zeyad Eashash (JOR) 3 

Men. 92 kg. 

Ato Plodzcki (SAM) 0 Victor Scheslstraete (BEL) 5 

Loren Berto Alfonso (AZE) 3 César La Cruz Peraza (CUB) 2 

Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine (ITA) 1 Lazizbek Mullojonov (UZB) 4 

Women. 50 kg. 

Giordana Sorrentino (ITA) 1 Nazym Kizaibay (KAZ) 4 

Fatima Herrera (MEX) 3 Laura Fuertes (SPA) 2 

Women. 66 kg. 

Grainne Walsh (IRL) 1 Anna Luca Hamori (HUN) 4 

Men. 71 kg. 

Magomed Elim Sultanovic (GER) 1 Tiago Muxanga (MOZ) 4 

Men. 92 kg. 

Patrick James Brown (GB) 1 Keno Marley Machado (BRA) 4 

Women. 50 kg. 

Phila Kaivo-Oja (FIN) 5 Margaret Tembo (ZAM) 0

Yasmin Moutaki (MOR) 0 Aira Villegas (PHI) 5

Women. 66 kg. 

Maria Altagracia Moranta (DOM) 1 Chen Nien Chin (TPE) 4

Alcinda Lucas Dos Santos (MOZ) 5 Jessica Triebelova (SVK) 0