CARSON, Calif. — The only three-time Olympian in U.S. boxing history stepped into the ring Saturday night one week after the culmination of the 2021 Summer Games looking to do something he couldn’t as an amateur Olympian — strike gold.

Rau’shee Warren did just that at the Dignity Health Sports Park with a vicious and violent attack versus Damien Vazquez, as the Cincinnati slugger scored two knockdowns in the first, and a third and final one with 42 seconds left into the second round for a resounding victory. 

Not known for much power throughout his professional career, Warren’s win warranted a deserving celebration, and the 34-year-old former WBA bantamweight champion did just that by flying into the ropes in his corner and pumping his gloves in jubilation.

Somehow, Vazquez survived the first-round onslaught on stilts to even see the second. The right hook was working during the first frame for Warren, as both knockdowns against Las Vegas’ Vazquez were set up by the same punch nearly 30 seconds apart from one another. 

At one point, Warren even had Vazquez pressed against the ropes and was launching away with unanswered right hooks as if it were a video game glitch. 

It was a timed left hook, however, that finished the fight in style for Warren. Vazquez ate the leather and slowly tumbled to the canvas as referee Ray Corona immediately waved off the match.

In all, Warren landed 34 punches, compared to a total of eight by Vazquez, who was coming off a loss to Brandon Figueroa last year. 

The decorated amateur Warren is a 2004, 2008 and 2012 US Olympian but never scored a win during the Summer Games.

Warren is now riding a three-fight winning streak since dropping a unanimous decision to Nordine Oubaali in 2019 for a then-vacant 118-pound title now belonging to Nonito Donaire. 

The fight served as the opener of Showtime’s three-bout broadcast headlined by WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero and challenger Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com