Colombia's Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas, right, exchanges punches with Japan's Ryomei Tanaka in their men's flyweight 52-kg quarterfinal boxing match at the Summer Olympics, on Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

       TOKYO -- Japan's Ryomei Tanaka advanced to the semifinals of the men's flyweight division of the boxing competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 3, putting him on track to secure Japan's first Olympic medal in the weight class since 1960.

       Tanaka advanced with a win over Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas of Colombia in their bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena. Since there is no contest for third place, Tanaka is guaranteed a medal in the event. The semifinals will be held on Aug. 5, where Tanaka will face Carlo Paalam of the Philippines.

       It will be the first time since 1960 for a Japanese boxer to win a medal in the flyweight division, after Kiyoshi Tanabe won bronze at the Rome Olympics that year. Japan last won an Olympic medal in men's boxing at the 2012 Games.

       Tanaka is the older brother of Kosei Tanaka, a three-weight WBO world champion.

       (Mainichi)

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