Canada's Tammara Thibeault, Wyatt Sanford win Pan Am boxing gold with unanimous decisions
CBC
Canadian boxers Tammara Thibeault and Wyatt Sanford captured gold medals at the Pan American Games with unanimous points decisions (5-0) on Friday in Santiago, Chile.
Thibeault beat Panama's Atheyna Bylon in the women's 75-kilogram final, while Sanford triumphed in the men's 63.5 kg final against Mexico's Miguel Angel Martinez.
Both Canadians were tied after two rounds before coming out on top in the third and final round to take gold.
"It means the world," Thibeault said. "Out of all the tournaments I've been to, I've been able to capture gold and I was missing Pan Ams. Now missing the Olympics, but hopefully we're on the right path and that's what we're going to get.
"I'm very proud of myself, very proud of my team. I couldn't have done it alone."
WATCH | Thibeault defeats Bylon for gold medal:
The Shawinigan, Que., native will arrive in Paris next summer looking to complete her golden collection.
Thibeault, 26, also holds the 2022 world and Commonwealth Games titles.
She booked her spot at next summer's Olympics by winning her semifinal on Thursday. Now, she'll work toward improving on her Canadian women's record quarterfinal finish from Tokyo 2020.
In a rematch of last year's world championship, Thibeault and Bylon traded blows throughout. Despite their similar statures, contrasting styles turned the fight into a strategic battle, with the Canadian looking to aggressively attack while the Panamian preferred to pick her spots.
It was Bylon who held the advantage with three of five judges after the first round, prompting Thibeault to lean even further into her quick-strike ability. By the end of the second round, four judges had the tilt all-square, with one favouring the Canadian.
WATCH l Thibeault discusses her gold-medal victory:
A tense final round saw the combatants take turns holding the seeming advantage, with Bylon controlling much of the pace. But a late flurry from Thibeault might have swung things the other way, and the Canadian emerged with a unanimous victory.
"We did know each other pretty well. She's s tricky boxy to fight. She's skilled. She's a little rough," Thibeault said. "I was a little disappointed in my performance today. I pulled off the win, yeah, but I could have boxed better.
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