London Olympics boxing: Light heavyweight gold for Russia`s Mekhontsev

London: Russia`s Yegor Mekhontsev won his country`s first boxing gold medal of the Olympics beating Kazakhstan`s Adilbek Niyazymbetov on a tie-break in the final here at the ExCel Arena Sunday.

The fight finished 15-15, with Mekhontsev given the win on countback. It was the second time in two fights that Niyazymbetov had seen his bout go to a tie-break after he reached the final on countback with a controversial 13-13 result against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in the semi-finals. In the first round, both Mekhontsev and Niyazymbetov landed good blows to the head with jabs, before the Kazakh fighter sent the Russian into the ropes with a hook to the side of the head. The judges scored the first round 4-3 in Niyazymbetov`s favour. Mekhontsev had the better of the second round, although the action remained fairly even as the Russian won 5-4. Brazil`s Yamaguchi Falcao Florentino and Ukraine`s Gvozdyk took bronze after losing their semi-final bouts Friday. Mekhontsev blitzed Falcao Florentino 23-11, while Niyazymbetov beat Gvozdyk on a countback tie-break after the fight ended 13-13. IANS