GB boxers cruise to opening wins

British welterweight Billy Joe Saunders and light-welterweight Bradley Saunders both opened their Olympic boxing campaigns with victory on day two.

Billy Joe, the first Briton from the Romany Gypsy community to box at an Olympic Games, beat Turkey's Adem Kilicci 14-3.

Namesake Bradley Saunders stopped Ghana's Samuel Kotey in round one.

Kotey took an initial lead but Saunders landed a pair of superb body blows to progress to the next round.

Afterwards, he dismissed low blow claims by his opponent - claims which were not supported by TV replays.

"I got him in the ribs and he'll probably see that when he gets up off the floor," said the 22-year-old from Sedgefield, who will meet Frenchman Alexis Vastine next.

"I did start slow and I let the occasion get to me. But I hurt him with the same punch earlier and he was wide open. I've definitely got the power and I proved it tonight."

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Billy Joe Saunders will now face Cuban Carlos Banteaux Suarez, who received a bye through to the second round.

"I've beaten the world bronze medallist by 10 points so I'm feeling great," he said.

"I'm going to stick it out and give it my all against the Cuban. It will be a battle to the end, but I'm in it to win a medal for Great Britain.

"I've overcome this big step of getting into the ring for the first time and hopefully I'll continue to improve. I'm in a tough draw but I've got to stick to it and hopefully get through."

Terry Edwards, Team GB boxing Head Coach, said: "It was a mature performance from the youngest member of the team against the world bronze medallist."

Earlier Irish light-welterweight Johnny Joyce made the second round after a hard-earned 9-5 win over Gyula Kate.

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