BOXING Lightweight Escobedo continues winning streak

XATHENS, Greece -- Vicente Escobedo hasn't lost a boxing match since January, when his defeat at the U.S. championships inspired the lightweight to slug his way the biggest achievements of his career.
He wasn't about to let that streak end in the first round of the Olympics. After all, his girlfriend still hasn't arrived in Athens to watch him win.
Escobedo's punishing 30-10 victory over Colombia's Jose David Mosquera on Monday kept the United States unbeaten in the preliminary round. He is the fifth American fighter into the second round already, joining two winning teammates and two who received byes.
"A lot of these guys are much older than us, but we're a young team, and we're fast," said the 22-year-old Escobedo, from Woodland, Calif.
"We're on a winning streak and hopefully we can keep it up. It gave me a lot of confidence knowing my teammates and family were cheering me on."
Indeed, Escobedo's well-wishers were the loudest fans at Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall when he took the ring. Led by his brother, Jose Luis, the fans waved American flags and banners with Escobedo's picture, and many wore T-shirts bearing his likeness while chanting his nickname -- "Chente! Chente!"
Escobedo easily dispatched Mosquera, no match for the American's speed and combinations. Even Escobedo's jab was too much, and the referee stopped the fight 31 seconds into the third round on the 20-point mercy rule.
"I was anxious because I'd been waiting a long time to get in the ring," he said. "My coach told me to get started real quick, and that's what I did."
Escobedo was hurt only once when Mosquera instantaneously blinded him with a punch to the head in the second round. Escobedo had a slight swelling under his right eye, but expected it to heal before Friday.
In the second round, Escobedo will fight Azerbaijan's Rovshan Huseynov, a narrow first-round winner. If Escobedo wins, he probably will fight defending champion Mario Kindelan of Cuba for a berth in the semifinals and a guaranteed medal.
The 33-year-old Kindelan beat Nigeria's Ahmed Sadiq 21-1 Monday.
"I've accomplished my dream by being here," Escobedo said. "Now it's one more: to win a gold medal."
Associated Press