PARIS (AP) — A year after a disappointing showing at the Rio Olympics, former Husker Jordan Burroughs is back on top of the world.
Burroughs captured his fourth world championship, defeating Khetik Tsabolov of Russia 9-6 in the 74-kilogram final at the world championships Saturday.
Burroughs, who was a two-time NCAA champion for Nebraska, previously won world titles in 2011, 2013 and 2015 to go along with a gold medal from the 2012 Olympics. Burroughs also becomes the second American men’s freestyle wrestler to win four world gold medals, joining John Smith.
Another former Husker, James Green, reached his first senior-level world championship final at 70 kg. Green brought the silver medal home after losing the final 8-0 to Italy’s Frank Chamizo.
In the 74 kg final, Burroughs came back from a 4-2 deficit with a late takedown in the first period. It was originally ruled four points, but a Russian challenge reduced it to two points for a 4-4 tie after one period. Tsabolov scored the first point of the second period and eventually led 6-5, but a late flurry by Burroughs gave him the 9-6 decision.
“It was amazing. This moment has been in my mind. I have visualized this for a long period of time,” Burroughs said. “Literally, as soon as I stepped off the mat in Rio, I remember doing an interview with USA Wrestling and saying I will be a world champion again. It came a lot sooner than a lot of people expected it to.”
One of Burroughs’ most challenging matches before the final was his first one of the day.
He trailed two-time world bronze medalist Ali Shabanau of Belarus 5-2 after one period. But Burroughs rallied, scoring the decisive points with 21 seconds left for a 7-5 win.
Burroughs then recorded technical falls over Japan’s Sohsuke Takatani and France’s Zelimkhan Khadjiev in the next two rounds before downing Bekzod Abdurakhmonov of Uzbekistan 6-5 in the semifinals. Burroughs trailed 3-2 after one period before scoring the next four points.
Green, who was a bronze medalist at the 2015 world championship, came into this tournament as the top seed in his weight class. He reached the finals by edging Zurabi Erbotsonashvili of Georgia 3-2 in the quarterfinals and Yuhi Fujinami of Japan 5-3 in the semifinals. He trailed 2-0 early in the semis before scoring the next four points.
But then he faced Chamizo, who won the 2015 world championship and was a bronze medalist at a lower weight at last year’s Olympics. Chamizo scored a takedown late in the first period for a 2-0 lead at the break. He added three more takedowns in the second period.
Burroughs and Green helped the U.S. win the team title in men’s freestyle for the first time since 1995, as the Americans finished with 54 team points, edging Russia by one. Also winning for the U.S. was Ohio State star Kyle Snyder, who defeated Olympic champ Abdusalim Sadulaev 6-5 in the 125 final.
Results
70 kg
Round of 16: James Green (USA) dec. Nestor Taffur (COL), 8-0
Quarterfinals: James Green (USA) dec. Zurabi Erbotsonashvili (GEO), 3-2
Semifinals: James Green (USA) dec. Yuhi Fujinami (JPN), 5-3
Gold Medal Match: Frank Chamizo (ITA) dec. James Green (USA), 8-0
74 kg
Qualification: Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Ali Shabanau (BLR), 7-5
Round of 16: Jordan Burroughs (USA) tech. Sohsuke Takatani (JPN), 12-2
Quarterfinals: Jordan Burroughs (USA) tech. Zelikhan Khadjiev (FRA), 13-2
Semifinals: Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (UZB), 6-5
Gold Medal Match: Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Khetik Tsabolov (RUS), 9-6
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