Boxing at the Olympics '08 *Beijing* Let's talk here! Post videos & pictures!!!

[Taeth]

Light Flyweight (48 kg)

Olympic champion 1992: Rogelio Marcelo, Cuba (never turned pro)
Olympic champion 1996: Daniel Petrov, Bulgaria (never turned pro)
Olympic champion 2000: Brahim Asloum, France (Current WBA champ at 108, pro record)
Olympic champion 2004: Yan Barthelemy (pro record)

Reigning champions:

World, USA 2007: Zou Shiming, China (+)
European C., Bulgaria 2006: David Ayrapetyan, Russia (+)
European Union C., Poland 2008: Pal Bedak, Hungary (+)
Asian Games, Qatar 2006: Zou Shiming, China (+)
Asian C., Mongolia 2007: Purevdorv Serdamba, Mongolia (+)
All-Africa Games, Algeria 2007: Suleiman Wanjau Bilali, Kenya (+)
African C., Madagascar 2007: Manyo Plange, Ghana (+)
Pan-American Games, Brazil 2007: Luiz Yanez, USA (?)
Pan-American C., Ecuador 2008: Yampier Hernandez, Cuba (+)
Oceanian C., Samoa 2008: Jack Willie, Papua New Guinea (+)
Commonwealth Games, Australia 2006: Japhet Uutoni, Namibia (+)

Participants 2008:

Africa:
Japhet Uutoni, Namibia
Suleiman Wanjau Bilali, Kenya
Manyo Plange, Ghana
Thomas Essomba, Cameroun [9]
Redouane Bouchtok, Morocco
Ronald Serugo, Uganda
Simanga Shiba, Swaziland

America:
Luis Yanez, USA [6@51]
Jose Luis Meza, Ecuador
Eduard Bermudez, Venezuela [16]
Paolo Carvalho, Brazil [18]
Winston Mendez, Dominican Republic
Yampier Hernandez, Cuba [6]

Asia:
Zou Shiming, China [1@51]
Harry Tanamor, Phillipines [1]
Amnat Ruonrang, Thailand [5]
Birzhan Zhakypov, Kazahkstan [7]
Rafikjon Sultonov, Uzbekistan
Sherali Dostiev, Tadjikistan
Purevori Serdamba, Mongolia [12]

Europe:
Nordine Oubaali, France [3]
Hovhannes Danielyan, Armenia [15]
Gheoriy Chygaev, Ukraine [9@51]
Paddy Barnes, Ireland [11]
David Ayrapetyan, Russia [2]
Lukas Maszczyk, Poland [13]
Pal Bedak, Hungary [4]
Kelvin de La Nieve, Spain [8]

Oceania:
Jack Willie, Papua New Guinea [20]

Preview:

Double (and reigning) world champ Zou Shiming must be the huge betting favourite, with the Olympics even staged in his native China. For those of us not in the know, he might even be the biggest favourite in any boxing division in Beijing. Some highlights from the WC-final can be watched here btw. Harry Tanamor was the only pinoy to reach the WC final, and at least a few posters on this site must be following him with interest. Mongolian Serdamba did beat Shiming in last year’s Asian Championship (watch the last minute here), but that was at home in Mongolia. Chances are things will be different in Beijing. Never rule out the Cuban participant – Barthelemy did not have the best record neither before nor since the Olympics – but Hernandez do not look like one of the favourites. Ha has recent losses to both Luis Yanez and Dominican Winston Mendez at least. The American hope, 20 year old former World Junior Champion Luis Yanez, seems to have been excluded from the American squad (story here). The special nature of the Olympics means that all representatives, despite being officially qualified, must be accepted by the national federation. Not sure how much of a difference he would make anyway – he was recently stopped in three rounds by Shiming.

Bonus info:

- I always find myself rooting for the fighters coming out of small nations, preferably Africans or fighters from small nations in Oceania. This year my hopes go out for Shimanga Shiba, Swaziland’s only representative in the entire games, who even received a wild card in order to get here.

- Zou Shiming can (should?) become the first ever Chinese gold medal in boxing. He will also become the first Asian to win in Light Flyweight.

- If it comes to a repeat of the World Championships-finals it will be the only third All-Asian Olympic final in history. Bantamweight Takao Sakurai (Japan) defeated Chung Shin-Cho (South Korea) on home turf in Tokyo 1964, while Thai flyweight Wijan Ponlid defeated the Kazakh Bulat Jumadilov in Sydney 2000.

- While Brahim Asloum (France) found Olympic success, all 19 European Championships contested at the weight have gone to boxers from the (former) Eastern bloc.

- Should Persamba repeat his success from the Asian Championship he will provide the first ever gold medal in Olympic history for Mongolia – the country has so far produced 5 silver medals and 10 bronze medals (the latter including 2 in boxing). Should Harry Tanamor do one better than in the World Championships, he will become the first ever Pinoy to win Olympic gold. All the countries’ post-WWII medals (2 silver, 2 bronze) has come in boxing btw, the latest in Barcelona 1992. Perhaps Tanamor can look to his countries’ flagbearer, the one and only Manny Pacquiao, for inspiration?

- Japhet Uutoni (Namibia) also represents a country without any Olympic gold medals. People might remember the sprinter Frankie Fredericks, who has won all of Namibias 4 medals so far (all silver).

- Jack Willie (Papua New Guinea) and Shimanga Shiba (Swaziland) can become their countries' first ever Olympic medallists.

I am pretty sure Rau'Shee Warren made it, and when he was 17 he lost to Shiming in the first round, but they are in the same division, and he has become 20x better than he was back then.

[Taeth]

Here are the ABA boxing rankings Mens World

its seems Andrade and Warren both have a pretty good shot in their division.

[amat]

Shiming is at light flyweight, Warren at flyweight. And if Warren was still at light fly, I very much doubt that he would fare much better against Shiming. Warren's main competion, imo, will be George Balakshin from Russia. Solid boxer, very fast especially on the inside, good defense and just an all around solid boxer. I think he'll do it though.

[killersheep]

I am pretty sure Rau'Shee Warren made it, and when he was 17 he lost to Shiming in the first round, but they are in the same division, and he has become 20x better than he was back then.

He moved up a weight class

[The Fightfan]

I've looked everywhere I do not know any channels this will be on.

[wesrman]

I've looked everywhere I do not know any channels this will be on.

Dont they tape delay all the footage in the States?? I know of many Americans that always watch the Canadian channels because its live. If you can get them TSN and CBC will show quite a bit of team USA stuff live.

[Youngblood]

I've looked everywhere I do not know any channels this will be on.

Dont they tape delay all the footage in the States?? I know of many Americans that always watch the Canadian channels because its live. If you can get them TSN and CBC will show quite a bit of team USA stuff live.

Can't wait for this stuff to start. I honestly don't know what TSN and CTV will show, but I hope it will be live and involve boxing. Any and all links would be good if posted if people have them. The more the better I would think, tv, streaming w/e . Sure wish Canada was representing better in boxing. Awesome thread Mikkel_K and all contributing.

Let the games begin!

[wesrman]

I honestly don't know what TSN and CTV will show, but I hope it will be live and involve boxing. Any and all links would be good if posted if people have them. The more the better I would think, tv, sptreaming w/e . Sure Canada was representing better in boxing. Awesome thread Mikkel_K and all contributing.

Let the games begin!

I dont think CTV is showing anything. I think its just TSN and CBC. They usually show quite a bit of boxing even though we only have 1 guy on the team. We suck.

[amat]

I'm really interested in Carlos Negron, I hope they show him on American TV. 6'4 light heavyweight, very busy and looks to have some power. Saw him for the first time at the US vs Puerto Rico event they had in Philly and he really impressed. I know Macho is big on him and we've talked a bit about him. Looks all there, could be 2 straight Olympics with upset golds at light heavy.

[Mikkel_K]

I am pretty sure Rau'Shee Warren made it, and when he was 17 he lost to Shiming in the first round, but they are in the same division, and he has become 20x better than he was back then.

Look for the Flyweight preview

I apologise for not having updated in a while, but I've been extremely busy during last weeks, and has only been on Saddo's very sporadically. Next week, hopefully everything should be up.

Also, rep should be on their way for everyone who has contributed.

[eagle]

Any u guys notice the name of the Aussie 91kg fighter?

Brad Pitt. The guy is not to bad but only an outside medal hope. Got some press here in oz due to his name tho. Could help in a pro career.

[SweetPea]

Any u guys notice the name of the Aussie 91kg fighter?

Brad Pitt. The guy is not to bad but only an outside medal hope. Got some press here in oz due to his name tho. Could help in a pro career.

For the sake of the other competitors, I have he doesn't have punching power like Brad Pitt did in the movie Snatch.

[Taeth]

I am pretty sure Rau'Shee Warren made it, and when he was 17 he lost to Shiming in the first round, but they are in the same division, and he has become 20x better than he was back then.

Look for the Flyweight preview

I apologise for not having updated in a while, but I've been extremely busy during last weeks, and has only been on Saddo's very sporadically. Next week, hopefully everything should be up.

Also, rep should be on their way for everyone who has contributed.

That makes it appear like Zou is in Warren's weight class, I thought Zou was a weightclass below him myself.

[Mikkel_K]

I am pretty sure Rau'Shee Warren made it, and when he was 17 he lost to Shiming in the first round, but they are in the same division, and he has become 20x better than he was back then.

Look for the Flyweight preview

I apologise for not having updated in a while, but I've been extremely busy during last weeks, and has only been on Saddo's very sporadically. Next week, hopefully everything should be up.

Also, rep should be on their way for everyone who has contributed.

That makes it appear like Zou is in Warren's weight class, I thought Zou was a weightclass below him myself.

Not quite sure what you mean? Last time both contested in Light Flyweight (48 kilo). Since then Warren has moved up to Flyweight (51 kilo). So now Sou is a weight class below. Both are, as mentioned, reigning world champs' at their weigts and must be considered heavy favorites for gold medals.

[Mikkel_K]

Thread (finally) updated with all participants.

Preview, additional information and links should follow (hopefully) soon.

Also, the official draw is August 8th, and if I am not mistaken there is no seeding procedure, wherefore a bit of luck can make a hell of a difference. Especially in those divisions where there seem to be clear cut favorites like Shiming or Andrade.

Reps have gone out to everyone here, I hope. Otherwise you can always send a nasty PM, reminding me in not-so-nice words that you have been overlooked. I do apologise for my measly number of reps, but live with it.