Mixed fortunes on exciting sixth day

14.08.2008

2008 Olympic Games page 

Another day of compelling action was completed in the Workers' Indoor Arena in Beijing, China on Thursday with world and Olympic medallists receiving varying fates during the Olympic Games boxing competition.


In the first bout of the day, AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007 69kg silver medallist Non Boonjumnong (THA) was beaten by Hosam Abdin (EGY) 11:10 before one of the headline bouts of the afternoon session saw Cuba's Carlos Banteaux Suarez, making his Olympic debut, prove to be too classy for Britain's rising star Billy Joe Saunders, winning the 69kg clash 13:6. After trailing 4:1 on the first round, Saunders pulled the bout back to 5:4 before Banteaux Suarez pulled away.

Pic: 64kg world champion Serik Sapiyev (KAZ) beat Jhonny Sanchez (VEN) 22:3


"I'm very happy to win such an important bout on my Olympic debut," Banteaux Suarez said. "I had lost to him in the past so this time I tactically prepared myself and I think I did a great job."


Saunders' coach Terry Edwards admitted that Banteaux Suarez has the goods go all the way. "He (Saunders) got beat by an opponent who will probably win the gold medal here," Edwards said.


One bout later saw a terrific come from behind victory from Toureano Johnson (BAH) who pulled off an exceptional 9:4 victory over Olexandr Strets'kyy (UKR) on the back of a 5:0 third round before bursting into tears.


"I thought about my father, my hero, Irwin Johnson," Toureano said. "It makes my heart hurt that he's not here with me but he's watching in the Bahamas and I know that he loves me.

Pic: Toureano Johnson (BAH) celebrates victory


"I'm a five-star boxer, there's not a boxing style I can not do. There is no particular punch I can't throw. We go in with all the toolbox. We need a screwdriver, we get a screwdriver. We need a hammer, we throw a hammer."


Other bouts in the afternoon saw AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007 69kg bronze medallist Silamu Hanati (CHN) beat Joseph Mulema (CMR) 9:4, 81kg silver medallist Artur Beterbiev (RUS) lose to Xiaoping Zhang (CHN) 8:2, 2005 world championship 81kg silver medallist Marijo Sivolija-Jelica (CRO) get beaten by Dzhakhon Kurbanov (TJK) 8:1 while AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007 81kg bronze medallist Yerkebulan Shynaliyev (KAZ) beat Carlos Negron Colon (PUR) 9:3.


In the evening 64kg session, world champion Serik Sapiyev comfortably beat Jhonny Sanchez (VEN) 22:3 before Athens Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong (THA) beat Masatsugu Kawachi (JPN) 8:1.


Russia's 2007 and 2003 world championship silver medallist Gennady Kovalev beat Richarno Colin (MRI) 11:2 before the bout of the session between Johnny Joyce (IRE) and Felix Diaz (DOM). Diaz led 5:1 after the first round before Joyce pulled the bout back to lead 9:8 after three rounds. The more aggressive Diaz tied the bout up at 11:11 just before the bell before the 24-year-old Diaz was declared the winner on count back.

Pic: Ireland's Kenny Egan (in red) beat Bahram Muzaffer (TUR) 10:2 in their 81kg clash


"There was a moment in which I saw myself losing so I went after him and thank God I got the win," Diaz said. "This is all due to the great pressure but I also think I won this bout with my heart."


"I wasn't expecting him to be as strong," Joyce said. "I tried to get away but he was strong, he was always in my face."


The winner of a tied bout is decided by considering the accepted scores after deleting the highest and lowest scores of both boxers. If the scores are still equal after this, the decision is made by the majority of the five judges by pressing the scoring pad once based on the performance of the boxers.


In other results, the two Athens Olympic 64kg bronze medallists Ionut Gheorghe (ROU) and Boris Georgiev (BUL) suffered defeats, losing to Morteza Sepahvandi (IRI) 8:4 and Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg (MGL) 10:3 respectively, while 69kg world champion Demetrius Andrade was in imperious form thrashing Andrey Balanov 14:3.


The Olympic Games boxing competition continues on Thursday with the 54kg, 57kg and 60kg divisions starting at 13:30.