Deutsche Presse-Agentur
August 21, 2004, Saturday
19:56:17 Central European Time
Kazakov moves into last eight, Jongjohor loses to Gamboa
The quarter-final lineup for the light flyweight Olympic boxing
tournament was completed Saturday, with the likes of world champion
Sergey Kazakov of Russia and Yan Bhartelemy Varela qualifying easily.
Earlier, world flyweight champion Somjit Jongjohor crashed out on
points after a desperate final round that included a point deduction
for holding.
Kazakov had little trouble dispatching the last Mexican boxer in the
tournament, Raul Castaneda, winning easily on points by 40 points to
16.
Next up for Kazakov is Namibia’s Joseph Jermia, victor over
Australia’s Peter Wakefield.
Zou Shiming of China also had no problems reaching the last eight,
defeating Endalkachew Kebede 31-8 on points but will need to be at
his best against Aleksan Nalbandyan of Armenia if he is to have any
hope of a medal.
In other action, Korea’s Hong Moo Won caused a surprise by beating
world championship bronze medallist Harry Tanamor of the Phillippines
42-25 on points while gold medal hope Varela beat Thailand’s Suban
Pannon 23-14.
Earlier, world flyweight champion Somjit Jongjohor fell to Cuba’s
Yuriorkis Gamboa while middleweight Andre Dirrell gave the U.S.
reason for cheer with a stoppage win over Nabil Kassel of Algeria.
The U.S. boxing team had lost four of its last five fights before
Dirrell exploded into action, caused an early standing-eight count
for Kassel, and building up a 12-3 lead at the end of the first
round. The referee stopped the contest after the second round ended
as Dirrell had built up a 20-point lead.
“I knew he was slow and I knew I had him where I wanted him after
that first left hand landed,” said Direll, who now takes on Cuba’s
Yordanis Despaigne in his quarter-final bout.
Earlier, compatriot Ron Siler lost on points 36-17 to Azbekistan’s
Tulashboy Doniyorov in the flyweight division.
Jongjohur also crashed out after appearing to be on course for a
place in the last eight as he led going into his final round against
Yuriorkis Gamboa.
But the counterpunching Cuban outscored him 10-2 in the final round
as Jongjohor was docked a point after three cautions for holding.
“I did not begin well. My tactics were not right and I was not
fighting the proper way,” said Gamboa afterwards. “But I won and that
is what matters.”
Gamboa now meets twice European champion and world championship
bronze medallist Georgy Balakshin of Russia, who defeated
Kazakhstan’s Mirzhan Rakhimzhanov on a point score of 29:20.
Germany’s Rustamhodza Rahimov had to survive a fierce last round
onslaught from Colombia’s Oscar Escandon, when he was twice knocked
to the floor, before prevailing 25-15 on points.
Waiting for Rahimov in the last eight will be Paulus Ambunda of
Namibia, an easy 39-19 points winner over Venezuela’s Jonny Mendoza,
who had to take two standing eight counts.
Sydney bronze medallist Jerome Thomas of France eased past Juan
Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic and the former world champion
now meets Azbekistan’s Tulashboy Doniyorov, a 36-17 victor over U.S.
boxer Ron Silver as the Americans’ misery in the ring continued.
Fuad Aslanov of Azerbaijan was made fight all the way by Georgia’s
Nikoloz Izoria and now meets Poland’s Andrzej Rzany who overwhelmed
Hicham Mesbahi of Morocco. dpa gb ms sc