2012 Olympian Joseph Diaz Jr. advances!

El Monte’s Joseph Diaz Jr. was victorious early Saturday morning, defeating Ukranian Pavlo Ishchenko with a dominate 19-9 score to open the first round of the 2012 Olympic boxing games in London.

The 19-year-old Bantamweight won the first round 4-3 and was ahead 9-6 after two. The third round saw the Southpaw unleash 3 and 4 punch conbinations to the head and body of a tiring Ishchenko to secure the win.

“I knew he had a tight defense and I knew he was going to try and throw his hook. I had to move to the left a little bit, pick my shots, counter and be on him” Said Diaz who now moves on to face top-seed Lazaro Alvarez of Cuba who defeated Diaz in the World Championships.

“He’s a really great fighter, he knows how to box on the outside” Diaz said of the 21-year-old Alvarez who had a first-round bye. “I have a really good game plan and I’ll be ready for him on Wednesday”