Canadian welterweight Custio Clayton has battled past Australia's Cameron Hammond to reach the last eight of the Olympic welterweight class.

The fighters looked very evenly matched in the first round, which ended level on 2-2 as neither man ceded an inch of ground.

The second round was fought in much the same way, although the cleaner work was perhaps coming from the gloves of the Canadian. The round ended 3-3.

Clayton opened the final round with a powerful left hook that sent a few tremors through the Australian, who took a few seconds to regain his composure.

That caused Hammond to come forward, but the Canadian matched his enthusiasm and went to work on the body.

Both men stood toe to toe as the seconds ticked away, but it was Clayton who was finishing strongly. He penetrated Hammond's guard with a delicious right uppercut that rocked his head back.

A good final round saw Clayton claim a 14-11 victory.