Team Australia's last hope in boxing at the 2008 Olympics walked into a Russian buzzsaw yesterday as Anthony Little was put out of the games by Alexey Tishchenko.

The Perth lightweight was outclassed from the start by the 2004 Olympic Gold Medallist at super featherweight but things got a whole lot worse for Little when he was nailed flush by a right hand that impaired his vision for the rest of the way.

Little's power game was no match for Tischenko's finely honed skill and the man that many are tipping to win the Beijing Gold Medal cruised to an 11-3 victory after four rounds.

Australia's Cinderella hopes are crushed as all of the fighters from Down Under have been defeated with the 27 year old Little the only one to have made it into the second round of competition.

The victory drought in Beijing is finally over for Team Australia as Western Australian lightweight Anthony Little outclassed Namibian boxer Julius Indongo today by a score of 14-2 but team mate Paul Fleming fell short in a hard fought featherweight clash with France's Khedafi Djelkhir

It wasn't pretty but Little managed to nullify the height and reach advantages enjoyed by the African, proving a hard target to hit while landing solid counters and generally out-hustling Indongo.

The Perth based 27 year old brought a good deal of experience to the table, having won the Chemistry Cup in Germany and Oceania Championships already this year as well as making it into the second round of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The 25 year old Indongo took Bronze at this year's AIBA African qualifying tournament but wasn't ready for the busy Australian.

Next up for Little is a much higher hurdle in the form of Russia's Alexey Tishchenko, the 2004 Olympic Gold Medallist at featherweight now campaigning as a lightweight, who outpointed Tunisian boxer Saifeddine Nejmaoui today by a score of 10-2.

Brisbane featherweight Paul Fleming took the fight to French opponent Khedafi Djelkhir earlier in the day and while the gritty southpaw ruled the first round, the European boxer adjusted and won the next three frames. More...