Samoan boxer taken from ring on stretcher

BEIJING — A Samoan boxer has been removed from the Olympic ring on a stretcher after he was knocked out in the third round of his first bout.

Farani Tavui was hit with a series of hard punches by Marijo Sivolija-Jelica of Croatia in the second and third rounds of their light heavyweight fight at Workers’ Gymnasium. A big right hand eventually staggered Tavui, who wobbled across the ring before finally flopping to the canvas.

Tavui got up as the referee counted, but staggered further before falling again. Tavui was sitting up and moving his head as the ringside doctor called for a stretcher. He was removed four minutes later.