Harry Garside has moved a step closer in his pursuit of a second Olympic boxing medal after winning his quarter-final at the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.
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A bronze medal-winner in the lightweight (63.5kg) division in Tokyo, Garside is among 13 Australian boxers looking to secure their Paris Olympics ticket through victory in the multi-sport competition.
The 26-year-old swept aside Papua New Guinea's John Ume in his first bout on Tuesday, winning with a 5-0 points decision over three rounds.
Despite the unanimous victory, Garside said it was a tough opener against Ume whom he also beat in Tokyo.
"It was good to get the nerves out of the way, I knew it was going to be one of the harder fights here," he told SBS Sport.
"He was the last Pacific Games champion and I fought him at the Olympic Games in my first fight there.
"He definitely didn't make it easy for me, he caught me with a few big overhands and he's a big puncher ... I felt like I executed my game plan really well so happy to get the first win out of the way and now two more (fights) to go."
In the men's flyweight, Yusuf Chothia was too strong for Eriu Temakau of Kiribati with all five judges giving him the victory.
On Monday, featherweight Charlie Senior had a one-sided defeat of Tongan David Rounds to advance to the semi-finals as did two-time Australian women's lightweight champion Tyla McDonald, who downed hometown favourite Tracy Koputu.
Australia's Emile Richardson fell 3-2 to Tongan Roman Viney in the men's light heavyweight class.
Garside's bronze in Tokyo two years ago was the country's first Games boxing medal in 33 years.
He turned professional and notched three wins before deciding to pursue another crack at Olympic gold as an amateur.
The Sydney-based fighter will next take to the ring in a semi-final on Thursday.
Tokyo 2020 Olympian Caitlin Parker, who won world championship silver in the 75kg division and is a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, will be in action on Friday.
Australia has sent a team of 76 athletes across the sports of archery, athletics, boxing, beach volleyball, judo, sailing, taekwondo and weightlifting.
Archers can also directly qualify for Paris 2024 at the tournament, while other athletes will earn ranking points that contribute to their pursuit of a berth.
Australian Associated Press
