By Shawn Smith

After winning gold with an incredible performance at the 2015 Pan Am games, USA Boxing's Antonio Vargas is off to an impressive start at the Rio Olympics.

In the third fight of the morning session on Day 8, the 19-year-old from Florida took a split decision from Brazil's Julian Neto, although many onlookers thought the fight clearly belonged to the American.

"It was a close fight," Vargas told Chris Mannix of NBC Sports. "I thought I had first round and he had second round. I had to go out and win the third round and by the grace of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ I was able to pull out the victory."

Next up for Vargas will be Uzbekistan's Shakhobidin Zoirov during the morning session on August 15.

Vargas will have a difficult road to the medal rounds. If he's successful in the round of 16, he'll come up against the first ranked Elvin Mamishzada of Azerbaijan. 

In the first of two heavyweight semi-finals, Evgeny Tishchenko of Russia advanced to the gold medal bout with his win over Uzbekistan's Rustam Tulaganov, meaning Tulaganov will settle for bronze.

Ireland's string of bad luck continued this morning with the elimination of welterweight Steven Donnelly and flyweight Brendan Irvine.

The headlining fight of today's evening session is gold medal favourite Erislandy Savon in the heavyweight semi-final against Kazakstan's Vassiliy Levit.

Quick results:

Men's flyweight (52kg.): Olzhas Sattibayev (KAZ) def. Jenvier Contron (PUR)

Men's flyweight (52kg.): Shakhobidin Zoirov (UZB) def. Brendan Irvine (IRL)

Men's flyweight (52kg.): Antonio Vargas (USA) def. Julian Neto (BRA)

Men's flyweight (52kg.): Yoep Finol (VEN) def. Leonel De Los Santos Nunez (DOM)

Men's flyweight (52kg.): Daniel Asenov (BUL) def. Fernando Martinez (ARG)

Men's welterweight (69kg.): Mohammad Rabii (MAR) def. Steven Donnelly (IRL)

Men's welterweight (69kg.): Shakhram Giyasov (UZB) def. Roniel Iglesias (CUB)

Men's heavyweight (91kg.): Evgeny Tishchenko (RUS) def. Rustam Tulaganov (UZB)

Men's super heavyweight (91+kg.): Tony Yoka (FRA) def. Laurent Clayton Jr. (ISV)

Men's super heavyweight (91+kg.): Hassein Iashaish (JOR) def. Mihai Nistor (ROU)

Men's super heavyweight (91+kg.): Leinier Pero (CUB) def. Guido Vianello (ITA)

Men's super heavyweight (91+kg.): Filip Hrgovic (CRO) def. Ali Demirezen