U.S. bantamweight gets
boxing off to rousing start
LONDON — U.S. bantamweight Joseph Diaz Jr. got the Olympic boxing tournament off to an entertaining start Saturday with a stylish 19-9 victory over Ukraine’s Pavlo Ishchenko in the opening bout.
An elite pro prospect, Diaz repeatedly snapped back Ishchenko’s head with uppercuts and quick strikes during a dominant third round.
Diaz earned a second-round bout Wednesday with Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez, the tournament’s top-seeded boxer — but the 19-year-old American from South El Monte, Calif., has captured the attention of promoters, managers and the entire bantamweight division.
“I had a really tough draw, and I know the Cuban is the No. 1 seed, but I’m confident,” Diaz said. “I think I’m giving the whole Team USA a boost. Everybody will be even more motivated.”

American teen advances in table tennis
LONDON — Warren Buffett and Bill Gates will be thrilled when they get the news: 16-year-old American Ariel Hsing is into the second round in Olympic table tennis.
She defeated Yadira Silva of Mexico in four straight games in Saturday’s opening day of play.
 Buffet met Hsing when she was only 9 and two years later invited her to play against shareholders at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting.
She returned this year after winning a spot on the U.S. team and played a few points with Buffett and Gates.
She calls Buffett “Uncle Warren” and Gates “Uncle Bill.”
Hsing will be a huge underdog in the second round against China-born Ni Xia Lian, who plays for Luxembourg and is a former European champion.