Kiwi boxer Jerome Pampellone wins first Olympic qualifier after coronavirus chaos

Kiwi light heavyweight boxer Jerome Pampellone is one step closer to the Tokyo Olympics after beating Japan's Ren Umemura via split decision in the first round of Asian/Oceanian qualifying in Amman, Jordan on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ time).

The 23-year-old Aucklander is competing in the men's 81kg category and the top five fighters from each weight division in qualifying will secure a place at the Olympics, starting in July.

The spread of coronavirus is threatening to postpone the Tokyo Games but organisers have repeatedly said it will go ahead.

Pampellone, the first of nine Kiwi amateurs who will enter the ring in Jordan, defeated Japanese boxer Umemura on a tight split decision after convincing the judges he shaded the bout.

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The first of three rounds was dominated by Pampellone but Umemura won the second before the decisive final round.

Pampellone appeared in control with quicker hands and a longer reach that could have swayed the judges towards giving him a close third round and a narrow points victory.

The Aucklander is still a few victories shy of guaranteeing an Olympic berth and next fights the top seed, Kazakhstan's Beksad Nurdauletov, the reigning men's 81kg world champion and world No 1, so he has a huge obstacle to overcome.

Athletes in qualification events for the Olympics are competing amid great uncertainty.

The Amman qualifiers were supposed to be held a month ago in Wuhan, China, but were moved away from there, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

Financially, Boxing New Zealand is on the ropes after the costly logistical nightmare of booking new flights and accommodation for Jordan, while seeking insurance because of the cancelled Wuhan event.

There was further chaos to come with more travel disruptions en route to Amman via Italy as the virus began to spread in Europe, but the Kiwi team arrived safely in Jordan last week.

Meanwhile, three more Kiwi boxers begin their qualifying campaigns overnight on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time).

Amy Andrew and Troy Garton face Japan's Sena Irie and Uzbekistan's Raykhona Kodirova in the women's 57kg and 60kg categories respectively.

Dominic Roe fights Hong Kong's Ka Wa Chan in the men's 69kg and the rest of New Zealand's team enter the fray before the end of the week.

The best Kiwi hope for an Olympic medal is two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist David Nyika, who is ranked No 2 in Asian/Oceanian qualifying in the men's 91kg.

The Hamilton heavyweight, who failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, was awarded a bye and advanced automatically to the quarterfinals in Jordan, so would need only one win to guarantee his Olympic spot.

His quarterfinal bout against either India's Naman Tanwar or Syria's Alaa Aldin Ghousoon will take place on Sunday (Monday NZ time).

AT A GLANCE

2020 Tokyo Olympics boxing qualifiers for Asia/Oceania in Amman, Jordan (March 3-11)

Day one: Jerome Pampellone (New Zealand) beat Ren Umemura (Japan) via split decision (men's 81kg)

Day two: Amy Andrew (New Zealand) v Sena Irie (Japan) in women's 57kg, Troy Garton (New Zealand) v Raykhona Kodirova (Uzbekistan) in women's 60kg, Ka Wa Chan (Hong Kong) v Dominic Roe (New Zealand) in men's 69kg.

Kiwi boxers still to fight: Tasmyn Benny (women's 51kg), Ariane Nicholson (women's 69kg), Ryan Scaife (men's 75kg), David Nyika (men's 91kg), Uila Mau'u (men's 91+kg).