Tag: Duke Ragan

Duke Ragan runs American men’s record to 6-0 in Olympics

Duke Ragan ran the American men’s record to 6-0 in the Olympics on Tuesday evening U.S. time.

Featherweight Duke Ragan kept the U.S. men’s Olympic winning streak alive Tuesday evening U.S. time.

Ragan, a 23-year-old from Cincinnati, outpointed Serik Temirzhanov of Kazakhstan 5-0 to reach the quarterfinals and give the American men a record of 6-0 so far in the Tokyo Games.

Ragan will face Kurt Walker of Ireland on Saturday evening U.S. time to clinch at least a bronze medal.

Walker, from Lizburn, scored a stunning upset by defeating World Champion and No. 1 seed Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov of Uzbekistan 4-1 in their Round of 16 fight.

Ragan won a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships.

In the women’s competition, middleweight Naomi Graham of Fayetteville, N.C., was scheduled to face  Zenfira Magomedalieva of the Russian Olympic Committee in the Round of 16 in the early morning hours Sunday U.S. time.

The U.S. women were 2-1 going into that fight, making the Americans 8-1 overall.

[lawrence-related id=22175,22155,22121]

Duke Ragan runs American men’s record to 6-0 in Olympics

Duke Ragan ran the American men’s record to 6-0 in the Olympics on Tuesday evening U.S. time.

Featherweight Duke Ragan kept the U.S. men’s Olympic winning streak alive Tuesday evening U.S. time.

Ragan, a 23-year-old from Cincinnati, outpointed Serik Temirzhanov of Kazakhstan 5-0 to reach the quarterfinals and give the American men a record of 6-0 so far in the Tokyo Games.

Ragan will face Kurt Walker of Ireland on Saturday evening U.S. time to clinch at least a bronze medal.

Walker, from Lizburn, scored a stunning upset by defeating World Champion and No. 1 seed Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov of Uzbekistan 4-1 in their Round of 16 fight.

Ragan won a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships.

In the women’s competition, middleweight Naomi Graham of Fayetteville, N.C., was scheduled to face  Zenfira Magomedalieva of the Russian Olympic Committee in the Round of 16 in the early morning hours Sunday U.S. time.

The U.S. women were 2-1 going into that fight, making the Americans 8-1 overall.

[lawrence-related id=22175,22155,22121]

American men off to 3-0 start in Olympic boxing

The American men are off to a 3-0 start in Olympic boxing.

The American men have gotten off to a strong start in Olympic boxing.

Lightweight Keyshawn Davis, featherweight Duke Ragan and welterweight Delante Johnson won their opening matches to reach the Round of 16 in their divisions and give the U.S. a 3-0 start.

Davis, a 3-0 professional and gold medal hopeful from Norfolk, Virginia, defeated Enrico Lacruz 5-0 on Sunday in Tokyo. On Saturday, Johnson, from Cleveland, defeated Argentina’s Brian Arregui 3-2, and Ragan, a 4-0 pro from Cincinnati, outpointed Samuel Kistohurry of France 3-2.

In women’s competition, American flyweight Virginia Fuchs of Houston defeated Svetlana Soluianova of the Russian Olympic Committee 3-2 on Sunday. And the U.S.’ Yasiel Ramirez, a native of Cuba who lives in Las Vegas, lost to Croatia’s Nikolina Cacic 5-0 in a featherweight bout Saturday.

Middleweight Troy Isley is the next American in action. The resident of Alexandria, Virginia, faces Vitali Bandarenka of Belarus on Monday Japanese time.

American men off to 3-0 start in Olympic boxing

The American men are off to a 3-0 start in Olympic boxing.

The American men have gotten off to a strong start in Olympic boxing.

Lightweight Keyshawn Davis, featherweight Duke Ragan and welterweight Delante Johnson won their opening matches to reach the Round of 16 in their divisions and give the U.S. a 3-0 start.

Davis, a 3-0 professional and gold medal hopeful from Norfolk, Virginia, defeated Enrico Lacruz 5-0 on Sunday in Tokyo. On Saturday, Johnson, from Cleveland, defeated Argentina’s Brian Arregui 3-2, and Ragan, a 4-0 pro from Cincinnati, outpointed Samuel Kistohurry of France 3-2.

In women’s competition, American flyweight Virginia Fuchs of Houston defeated Svetlana Soluianova of the Russian Olympic Committee 3-2 on Sunday. And the U.S.’ Yasiel Ramirez, a native of Cuba who lives in Las Vegas, lost to Croatia’s Nikolina Cacic 5-0 in a featherweight bout Saturday.

Middleweight Troy Isley is the next American in action. The resident of Alexandria, Virginia, faces Vitali Bandarenka of Belarus on Monday Japanese time.

Duke Ragan, U.S. amateur standout, signs with Top Rank

Duke Ragan, a silver medalist in the 2017 World Championships, has signed a promotional deal with Top Rank and Antonio Leonard Promotions.

Duke Ragan is going pro.

The U.S. amateur star, a silver medalist in the 2017 World Championships, has signed a promotional deal with Top Rank and Antonio Leonard Promotions.

The featherweight from Cincinnati will make his debut in a four-rounder on the Eleider Alvarez-Joe Smith Jr. card on Aug. 22 in Las Vegas. His opponent has yet to be determined.

Ragan is trained by Kay Koroma, who also works with Shakur Stevenson, Mikaela Mayer and Jarrett Hurd, among others.

“This opportunity means the world to me,” Ragan said. “Since I didn’t go to the Olympics, becoming a world champion is my next goal. My jab, counterpunching ability, and stamina are more suited to the pro game.

“When I fought with headgear, I was hurting guys but not knocking them out. You’ll see more knockouts from me as a pro.”

Said Bob Arum, Top Rank’s chairman: “Cincinnati has produced countless great fighters, and we believe Duke Ragan will be the next world champion from the ‘Queen City.’”

Ragan suffered two losses in the U.S. Olympic Trials in December but still had a path to the Tokyo Games. However, with the postponement of the Olympics until next year and his 3-year-old daughter in mind, he decided to turn pro.

“It’s finally my time to shine,” he said. “I’m proud to be from Cincinnati, and I know bringing home a world championship will put me up there with the top dogs from my city.”