Edith stops Stropva, moves into quarter-final

By Tony Ubani reporting from London
Edith Ogoke, the last Team Nigeria boxer standing came out smoking Sunday and punched herself into the quarter finals.

She defeated her opponent from Azerbaijan, Vy Stropva Elena 14-12 to romp into the quarter-finals where she is expected to fight Russian Torlopova Nadezda today(Monday) 4.15 p.m.

Elena Vystropova (L) of Azerbaijan defends against Edith Ogoke (R) of Nigeria during the women’s Middleweight (75kg) boxing round of 16 of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the ExCel Arena August 5, 2012 in London. AFP PHOTO

Tough-talking Edith marched her words with sucker punched that rattled her much taller opponent as she led the first round 4-2.

Trying to keep the Nigerian at bay with her longer reach, the Azerbaijan fighter fought back but could  not contain Edith’s hooks that caught her napping severally. The Nigerian did not surrender her lead though, her opponent got some punches on target.

With her beautiful moves on the canvas, Edith went on the offensive again but ran into difficulty but jabbed herself out. The Azerbaijan narrowed the lead in the third round12-11. The final round brought out the best again from the Nigerian whose left and right combination pushed her into the quarter-final.