Olympic Boxing: U.S. Boxing Team: And Then There Was One

On Sunday, August 17, 2008, the last two U.S. boxers competed in the Quarterfinals with only one moving forward to the medal rounds and the other suffering a discouraging loss, frustrated with the judges and the scoring system.

Welterweight Demetrius Andrade, arguably the most talented athlete on the U.S. boxing team and current world champion, fought in a disappointing loss to Jungjoo Kim of Korea.

Both fighters started out slow, circling in the center of the ring from which they eventually received two warnings from the referee to box. The action picked up slowly with an occasional jab and one-two combination from Andrade and a few punches from Kim, who flurried at the very end of the round to get on the scoreboard, 1-0.

In the beginning of the second round, Andrade lets his hands go, a three punch combination, two punch combinations and double right hook in succession. Kim covers up well and blocks most of the punches and scores from his own combination of a lead right, left hook, right and another left hook.

Andrade comes in again, working on the inside with a multiple punch combination; Kim does an excellent job of covering up with a tight peek-a-boo defense while he backs away. A solid left from Andrade connects with no point registering.

With a minute left in round two, Andrade charges forward with a punch combination that scores, Kim counters and scores as well. Kim throws a combination that is blocked by Andrade, but scores anyway.

At the risk of being biased to the U.S. fighter, I watched, re-watched and even played several portions of this bout in slow motion and it was very clear that this combination by Kim was blocked and should not have scored a point.

Andrade then executed ten consecutive punches that went unanswered by Kim, which should have counted for more than the American received.

The U.S. southpaw started with a one-two combination that Kim blocked by covering up, a three punch combination that is blocked and ducked by Kim, a solid right uppercut lands without a point registering, a right hook misses, a left upper cut is blocked and finally a left jab lands flush that scores.

In a round that should have been scored at least 5-3 for Andrade, it ended up 4-3, in favor of Kim.

In round three, Andrade stayed busy but gave up his height advantage trying to work on the inside through the tight defense of Kim, who covers up and then occasionally springs out with flurries, both fighters scoring.

Andrade was throwing incredible combinations using his full arsenal, while Kim continued to do a great job covering up and blocking with his arms.

A four punch combination from Kim scores, hard punches by Andrade are blocked and when the U.S. welterweight leaves himself open during an exchange, Kim scores cleanly, before Andrade comes back with another combination that scores.

Both fighters continue to exchange on the inside with each scoring and ending the round 8-6 in favor of Kim.

Early in round four, Kim scores and Andrade gets back the point. Kim lands a body shot that does not register a point while Andrade throws continuous punches that are blocked. Kim throws a three punch combination that is again clearly blocked but is awarded a point. Andrade throws uppercuts to try and get through the tight defense of Kim and scores with a straight left.

During the next exchange, Kim holds Andrade and gets pushed to the canvas. During the break as Kim stands up, Andrade looks to the crowd for the score, rather than his coaches.

When the action resumes, Andrade scores again; Kim tried to tie him up and again is pushed to the ground. The score is 10-9 for Kim with twenty-six seconds left. Andrade lands s shot to the body of Kim that wasn’t scored and he continues throwing combinations while a right from Kim scores. Andrade lands a solid punch just after the final bell, losing 11-9.

Rather than go to the center of the ring at the end of the match while his opponent’s hand is raised in the air, Andrade leaves the ring, showing his disgust of the judging and scoring.

After the fight he said, “They didn’t give me what I was supposed to get. Don’t get me wrong, he fought a great fight, we both worked inside but some of the points I don’t know where they were coming from because most of what he threw was blocked and I was catching them. They weren’t giving me any points.”

“I felt I won the fight,” continued Andrade. “I felt it was a good close fight, but I knew I hit him with many more punches then what they say he hit me with because he wasn’t hitting me with anything clean.”

U.S. Coach Dan Campbell also commented on the fight, “We weren’t getting our points; the kid did everything he could.”

The hopes and dreams of the U.S. now lay on one last fighter, heavyweight Deontay Wilder, who was able to get by on the positive end of a draw against Mohammed Arjaoui of Morocco.

Arjaoui started the round by holding Wilder, who was keeping his distance with the jab. Arjaoui was able to score with a combination when Wilder gave up his height coming in.
The Moroccan scored another point with a left hook. Wilder responded, registering a point with his jab and closing the round with a combination that scored, ending the round even at 2-2.

In the second round, Wilder moved in, jabbing and scoring with a straight right; Arjaoui was holding as he tried to bully his way forward. A one-two from Wilder is blocked, but a second one-two lands and scores. Arjaoui comes forward throwing, Wilder gets caught with a shot backing straight up, ending the round 4-3 in favor of Wilder.

Arjaoui charges forward in the third, throwing multiple punches and scoring twice. Wilder counters and scores. Another nice one-two from Arjaoui scores to take back the lead. Wilder scores with a right and both fighters exchange shots, with Arjaoui scoring again. The round ends back in favor of Arjaoui, 7-6.

Both fighters exchange big shots in the beginning of round four, although most don’t land cleanly, before Wilder scores a big right. Both fighters clinch and trade, each scoring.

With a minute left in the round, Wilder is down 9-8. The referee stops the action issuing a third warning to Arjaoui, and Wilder is awarded two points, taking the lead 10-9. Fighting from the center of the ring using his jab, Wilder gives up his height, coming in and gets hit leaning forward, ending the round 10-10.

With the draw, Wilder was announced the winner, based on punch statistics.

When asked about his performance, Wilder said, “I lost my focus seeing my teammate go down. We have been together for a year.”

Speaking about Andrade’s loss he continued. “I’ve never seen any of these guys break down and cry. It hurt me tremendously in my heart and made me start crying.”

Being the last U.S. boxer to move into the Semifinals and be guaranteed a medal, Wilder said, “Since I’m the only guy left, it might give me a little more motivation just to do what I got to do because I’m the last one.”

Ironically, Wilder has only boxed for just under three years and has the least amount of experience on the team, but was able to go the furthest in the competition. Wilder’s Olympic medal will represent the lowest total for the U.S. Olympic boxing team in history.