Cuban light flyweight Joahnys Argilagos defeats Kenya's Peter Warui

Joahnys Argilagos Perez (CUB) of Cuba celebrates after winning his bout against Peter Mungai Warui (KEN) of Kenya. REUTERS

Brilliant Cuban light flyweight Joahnys Argilagos underlined his rich potential as he became the first boxer at the Rio Olympics into the semi-finals to guarantee at least a bronze medal.

The 19-year-old Cuban prodigy and world champion had Kenya's Peter Warui running around in circles on the way to a unanimous points decision.

Argilagos displayed the full array of his electric footwork, at one point ducking a Warui haymaker, whose momentum took him tumbling into the ropes.

The Cuban merely grinned back at his opponent and later delivered a sucker-punch while appearing to look in the opposite direction.

Argilagos faces Colombian Yurberjen Martinez in the semis on Friday, after he defeated Samuel Carmona Heredia of Spain on a split points decision.