Caribbean Net News, Cayman Islands
Aug 23 2008

Cubans suffer rare off day in the ring

Published on Saturday, August 23, 2008
By Patrick Vignal

BEIJING, China (Reuters): Cuba had a rare off day in Friday’s
semi-finals of the Olympic boxing competition which marked a new era
for the showcase heavyweight class.

The superpower of amateur boxing, Cuba had placed eight fighters in
the last four but lost half of them on a day with plenty of upsets.

Light-welterweight Rosniel Iglesias became their first casualty when
he lost 10-5 to Manus Boonjumnong, who kept alive his hopes of
becoming the first Thai boxer to win successive titles and goes on to
meet Felix Diaz of the Dominican Republic.

Light-flyweight Yampier Hernandez also bowed out, losing on countback
to Mongolia’s Serdamba Purevdorj, and lightweight Yordenis Ugas was
ousted too, falling to gifted Frenchman Daouda Sow in one of a busy
day’s most exciting bouts.

The biggest shock for Cuba, however, was when Osmay Acosta lost to
Russia’s Rakhim Chakhkiev, meaning the Cubans will miss out on
heavyweight gold after winning the last four titles.

There will be no American in the heavyweight final either after
Deontay Wilder lost to Italian Clemente Russo, ending the U.S. team’s
presence in the tournament and sealing their worst Olympic
performance.

Cuba and the United States had won the last 11 heavyweight titles
between them but will have to sit and watch when Chakhkiev and Russo
battle it out in Saturday’s final.

Prior to 1984 the heavyweight class was unrestricted, though a new
super-heavyweight class was introduced at Los Angeles with the
heavyweights then restricted to under 91kgs.

Before going to pack, Wilder added his name to a long list of boxers
to have complained about the scoring and predicted the Americans would
soon be redeeming themselves.

"I think it was closer than the score showed but what are you going to
do about it?", he said after losing a 7-1 decision.

"There have been a lot of changes in our program but you’re going to
see greatness from the Americans in the next few years."

The day also saw red-haired Russian Alexey Tishchenko stay on course
to become only the fourth boxer to win gold in two different weight
classes by outpointing Armenia’s Hrachik Javakhkyan to advance to the
lightweight final.

Britain’s James DeGale had earlier strolled through to the
middleweight final and said afterwards it had been as easy as it
looked.

"It was a walk in the park for me," DeGale said after outpointing
Irishman Darren Sutherland 10-3 to set up a final bout against Cuba’s
Emilio Correa.

The day ended on a painful note for Britain when super-heavyweight
David Price was brutally stopped by Italian world champion Roberto
Cammarelle.

Price, who had dreamed of emulating compatriot Audley Harrison, the
2000 Olympic champion, was 9-0 down when he was sent reeling by a
one-two combination and the referee stopped the contest with 50
seconds left in the second round.