Nico Hernandez, left, battles Carlos Pilataxi of Eduador on Wednesday in Rio/AP photo by Frank Franklin II

After not winning a medal in boxing in the 2012 London Games, Team USA is guaranteed of at least one in Rio. That is thanks to Nico Hernandez, who Wednesday defeated Carlos Pilataxi of Ecuador via split decision in the light flyweight quarterfinals.

That victory assures Hernandez, of Wichita, Kan., of no less than a bronze medal. He will next take on Uzbekistan’s Hassanboy Dusmatov in Friday’s semifinals.