Team Brazil got off to a strong start at the Pan American Games in Santiago. This Thursday, Luiz Gabriel Oliveira (known as Bolinha), qualified for the quarter-finals of the men’s 57 kg category in boxing. The Brazilian beat the Canadian Victor Tremblay, by technical knockout, in the second round, at the Olympic Training Center in Chile.

The grandson of Servílio de Oliveira, the first Brazilian to win an Olympic medal in this sport with bronze in Mexico in 1968, put in a great performance during the fight. Now the next challenge will be against the Uruguayan Lucas Garcia Fernández, next Monday, at 5:45 p.m. (Brasilia time).

“I really liked my performance. It proves that the work is very well done. I was already a medalist in my youth and I am here to fight for gold and for the Olympic ranking,” said Luiz, bronze medal winner at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires last year.

START WITH VICTORY! 🇧🇷🥊

Luiz Oliveira, Bolinha, (-57 kg), wins Brazilian team boxing debut at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games 🇨🇱

Victory in the 2nd round over Victor Tremblay 🇨🇦 and guaranteed ranking for the quarter-finals!

Come on! 👏

🎥:

@nsports

pic.twitter.com/dA4shNxxab

– Team Brazil (@timebrasil)

October 19, 2023

In boxing, the Pan American Games in Santiago grant two places at the Paris 2024 Olympics per weight category. The exception is the women’s quotas of 57 kg and 60 kg, which will give four places.

After winning six medals in Pan de Lima (Peru) in 2019, Brazilian boxing is looking to beat its own record in the Chilean capital. Furthermore, the main objective of the Brazilian team is to guarantee the classification of as many athletes as possible for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Luiz Gabriel Oliveira beat Canadian Victor Tremblay, by technical knockout, in the second round