Maybe it’s time to believe the hype on Carlos Balderas.
And if you haven’t heard any of the love being given to the 19-year-old American boxer, then feel free to learn more about this guy before his quarterfinal fight on Friday.
Team USA is now 4-0 after Balderas beat 26-year-old Japanese fighter Daisuke Narimatsu to advance to within three fights of going for a gold medal in lightweight boxing at the Rio Olympics.
MORE: More fights / Balderas full fight replay
Balderas advanced to fight Narimatsu with another upset, beating 30-year-old Kazakh fighter Berik Abdrakhmanov.
Lazaro Alvarez of Cuba is next, and the 2012 bantamweight bronze winner presents a massive challenge. Not only is Alvarez expected to medal -- so was Abdrakhmanov -- but the Cuban has fought one less fight in this compressed tournament.
One of the bigger surprises of these Olympics: @USABoxing is rolling. Lightweight Carlos Balderas just picked up his second win. U.S.: 4-0.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) August 9, 2016
