British Boxing boom time! Olympic prospects - the catalyst?

[Goz]

Talk of 3 gold medalists which would be unbelivable.

I remember when the 5 US gold medalists from LA 84 including Biggs, Breland and Holyfield debuted and the hullabaloo that followed them.

If we had 3 gold medalists in Bejing it would rival that, if not better it because our fighers would have done it in China.

Anyone think we are seeing the benefit from the Lennox/Nax fights in the 90s? Guys who were 12/13 back then now 10 years on were inspired by Lewis and Hamed? They were talking on Radio 5 liver earlier about these guys being motivated by Khan's success and to a degree that might be true but I would have thought this years Olympians were well into boxing before Amir Khan became a name?

[Gray-Fox]

The talk of 3 gold medallists is nothing but typical British optimism. I really hope I'm wrong, but I believe that the form books in amboxing don't lie, and quite simply none of the major players aside from Gavin are really hitting Olympic gold medal winning form. Not to mention the Russians and Chinese (who will do will I think, by virtue of being at home). In fact, I think the Russians can get six or seven golds...that's how good they are in comparison to Cuba, who I think this time will do poorly. Ironically, their best medal hope is at the same weight as Frankie Gavin, one Yordenis Ugas...

[metropol]

Getting slightly away from the point but staying on am boxing. Ireland have five going does anyone think there is a chance of a gold medal? It may be a lot of hyping but I think this time is very good for boxing on this side of europe with a recently ended run of entertaining british title fights and Irish boxing having a great resurgance.

[Gray-Fox]

Darren Sutherland and Kenny Egan are DEFO ones to watch at middle and light heavy respectively.

Sutherland has beaten GB's representative James Degale 4 out of the 5 times they've met...

[yiddo14]

The two Irish fighters may medal(depends on the draw), but they won't win Gold. The other 3 will be lucky to win a fight.

Britain are being extremely optimistic talking about 3 gold medals(if that is the case)
3 medals of any colour would be a success.
Everyone is talking about Frankie Gavin, but I have a feeling David Price will cause a bit of a stir at these games.
He is coming into the tournament having had a few tough bouts with some good fighters.
Having had to qualify at the last qualifying event means that he will be battle hardened, having had the extra fights against hungry guys.
I think he will medal, especially if the draw is kind.

All said and done though, the Russians will completely dominate, with China picking up more than their fair share of medals.

Would love to see the Biritsh lads bring home the bacon though.

[Poncey]

Personally, I think it's the benefit of the lottery funding more.

I fancy Billy Jo to cause a bit of an upset and Joe Murray to improve upon his bronze. I have a nasty feeling Gavin might not pull through. Usuallu when the pressure is on a Brit sportsman it never goes well.

I really hope I'm wrong.

[hitman_hatton1]

2 or 3 medals from the team i think.

not sure about any gold's though. :(

[SticknMove]

Talk of 3 gold medalists which would be unbelivable.

I remember when the 5 US gold medalists from LA 84 including Biggs, Breland and Holyfield debuted and the hullabaloo that followed them.

If we had 3 gold medalists in Bejing it would rival that, if not better it because our fighers would have done it in China.

Anyone think we are seeing the benefit from the Lennox/Nax fights in the 90s? Guys who were 12/13 back then now 10 years on were inspired by Lewis and Hamed? They were talking on Radio 5 liver earlier about these guys being motivated by Khan's success and to a degree that might be true but I would have thought this years Olympians were well into boxing before Amir Khan became a name?

I remember the 'Class of '84', as it was billed and the anticipation that met them turning over - Pernell Whitaker and Meldrick Taylor were the other gold medallists that debuted. The US won 8 gold medals that year. Paul Gonzales, Steve McCrory, Taylor, Whitaker, Jerry Page, Breland, Frank Tate, Henry Tillman and Biggs. Holyfield was said to have been robbed in the semis and got a bronze. Virgil Hill also got a silver. Unbelievable medal haul but somewhat diluted by the fact that Russia, Cuba and the other east Europeans boycotted the Games that year.

If we got 3 gold medals I would be amazed. Probably more realistic for us to get 3 medals. I also think that the added momentum and belief of this team owes more to the success of a very young Khan within the international amateur boxing format than what Naz/Lewis achieved as pros.

Incidently, a young Lennox Lewis got beaten by Biggs in the QFs in '84.

[Goz]

2 or 3 medals from the team i think.

not sure about any gold's though. :(

Still be a good acheivement and watching those guys turn pro will be a lot of fun and ensure boxing stays in the public eye for years to come...

If Haye can make some kind of noise at Heavyweight and then watching our Olympians develop - British boxings future is secure imo.

[hitman_hatton1]

2 or 3 medals from the team i think.

not sure about any gold's though. :(

Still be a good acheivement and watching those guys turn pro will be a lot of fun and ensure boxing stays in the public eye for years to come...

If Haye can make some kind of noise at Heavyweight and then watching our Olympians develop - British boxings future is secure imo.

james degale is the best pro prospect out of the lot for me.

he's got a pro style.

good punch and good skills.

not sure he medals here though.

[Goz]

Talk of 3 gold medalists which would be unbelivable.

I remember when the 5 US gold medalists from LA 84 including Biggs, Breland and Holyfield debuted and the hullabaloo that followed them.

If we had 3 gold medalists in Bejing it would rival that, if not better it because our fighers would have done it in China.

Anyone think we are seeing the benefit from the Lennox/Nax fights in the 90s? Guys who were 12/13 back then now 10 years on were inspired by Lewis and Hamed? They were talking on Radio 5 liver earlier about these guys being motivated by Khan's success and to a degree that might be true but I would have thought this years Olympians were well into boxing before Amir Khan became a name?

I remember the 'Class of '84', as it was billed and the anticipation that met them turning over - Pernell Whitaker and Meldrick Taylor were the other gold medallists that debuted. The US won 8 gold medals that year. Paul Gonzales, Steve McCrory, Taylor, Whitaker, Jerry Page, Breland, Frank Tate, Henry Tillman and Biggs. Holyfield was said to have been robbed in the semis and got a bronze. Virgil Hill also got a silver. Unbelievable medal haul but somewhat diluted by the fact that Russia, Cuba and the other east Europeans boycotted the Games that year.

If we got 3 gold medals I would be amazed. Probably more realistic for us to get 3 medals. I also think that the added momentum and belief of this team owes more to the success of a very young Khan within the international amateur boxing format than what Naz/Lewis achieved as pros.

Incidently, a young Lennox Lewis got beaten by Biggs in the QFs in '84.

Biggs was hyped a lot at the time in the US. Comparasions with Ali were made, he did employ a similar style.

He started to look flaky when he struggled in some 'learning' fights - I think one with David Bey were he looked like he might not be the second coming.

Of course Biggs might have won a world title has his turning pro not coincided with a certain Mr Tyson and he was never the same after they fought and Tyson explained to Larry Merchant after that Biggs was crying 'like a girl' in the ring.

[Gray-Fox]

2 or 3 medals from the team i think.

not sure about any gold's though. :(

Still be a good acheivement and watching those guys turn pro will be a lot of fun and ensure boxing stays in the public eye for years to come...

If Haye can make some kind of noise at Heavyweight and then watching our Olympians develop - British boxings future is secure imo.

james degale is the best pro prospect out of the lot for me.

he's got a pro style.

good punch and good skills.

not sure he medals here though.

I disagree. I think Joe Murray or BJ Saunders have more effective pro styles.

[yiddo14]

Billy Joe will make the best pro out of the British Olympic Team.

Hope he stays around for 2012. He is only a baby and has no need to rush.
Suppose it depends on how he does in Beijing.

[Old bones Ian]

If i was a promoter Darren Sutherland is the one i'd try and sign after the olympics, regardless of wether he wins a medal or not. Got a very pro style, think he's definatly going to be a hit when he turns pro.

Gavin should win a medal, and i think we have the potential to win another 2.
Alot will depend on the draw. One of the things i've liked so far is the mentallity of the boxers, none of them are going with the 'just happy to be here' approach. All are focused and determined to get as far as they can.
having a squad of boxers going can make such a difference as well, you have that team mentallity. All working for each other.

[Arbachakov]

I wonder how many gift decisions the Chinese will get?.

[03mcgs0]

The two Irish fighters may medal(depends on the draw), but they won't win Gold. The other 3 will be lucky to win a fight.

Yiddo have you seen John Joe Nevin fight?? We over here are quitely confident he'll medal, he's only 18 so we dont want too much pressure on his young shoulders. This year he has achieved

-Irish Senior National Title
-European Olympic Qualification Gold Medal in Pescara, Italy
-European Union Gold in Poland

What needs to be remembered is that he achieved all this in his first attempt unlike several others, he shows no fear.

[SticknMove]

Talk of 3 gold medalists which would be unbelivable.

I remember when the 5 US gold medalists from LA 84 including Biggs, Breland and Holyfield debuted and the hullabaloo that followed them.

If we had 3 gold medalists in Bejing it would rival that, if not better it because our fighers would have done it in China.

Anyone think we are seeing the benefit from the Lennox/Nax fights in the 90s? Guys who were 12/13 back then now 10 years on were inspired by Lewis and Hamed? They were talking on Radio 5 liver earlier about these guys being motivated by Khan's success and to a degree that might be true but I would have thought this years Olympians were well into boxing before Amir Khan became a name?

I remember the 'Class of '84', as it was billed and the anticipation that met them turning over - Pernell Whitaker and Meldrick Taylor were the other gold medallists that debuted. The US won 8 gold medals that year. Paul Gonzales, Steve McCrory, Taylor, Whitaker, Jerry Page, Breland, Frank Tate, Henry Tillman and Biggs. Holyfield was said to have been robbed in the semis and got a bronze. Virgil Hill also got a silver. Unbelievable medal haul but somewhat diluted by the fact that Russia, Cuba and the other east Europeans boycotted the Games that year.

If we got 3 gold medals I would be amazed. Probably more realistic for us to get 3 medals. I also think that the added momentum and belief of this team owes more to the success of a very young Khan within the international amateur boxing format than what Naz/Lewis achieved as pros.

Incidently, a young Lennox Lewis got beaten by Biggs in the QFs in '84.

Biggs was hyped a lot at the time in the US. Comparasions with Ali were made, he did employ a similar style.

He started to look flaky when he struggled in some 'learning' fights - I think one with David Bey were he looked like he might not be the second coming.

Of course Biggs might have won a world title has his turning pro not coincided with a certain Mr Tyson and he was never the same after they fought and Tyson explained to Larry Merchant after that Biggs was crying 'like a girl' in the ring.

Yeah I remember Biggs v Tyson. Biggs, like a lot of Tyson opponents, looked terrified of getting hit. And he definately wasn't up to much after that. Gary Mason ko'd him a few years after over here. Sometimes a gold medal can flatter a prospective pro, especially with the HWs.

I wonder if he would have won gold, if Teofilio Stevenson had a chance of competing for a 4th at these Olympics.

[03mcgs0]

[quote="SticknMove"]
I wonder if he would have won gold, if Teofilio Stevenson had a chance of competing for a 4th at these Olympics.[/quote]

Man Teofilio what a legend, three heavyweight Olympic gold medals could have made it four, and apparently turned down a $5 million dollar contract to turn pro.....

[BigEars]

The two Irish fighters may medal(depends on the draw), but they won't win Gold. The other 3 will be lucky to win a fight.

You're obviously not that familiar with John Joe Nevin, I gave him an equal chance of medaling as Egan and Sutherland.
I don't reckon we're going to medal tbh but 3 out of the 5 will be young enough to stay on for London and could very well be in strong contention for medals then.

Nevin won Gold at the first Olympic qualifiers in Italy, winning his final 17-10 against a Romanian by the name of Goyan. Goyan himself had beaten the German Rahimov in the semi-final and Rahimov has won Bronze at the Olympics, World CHampionships and the European Championsips, aswell as a Silver at the World Championships.

Two guys that didn't qualify until the second qualifiers(having failed in the first) were Ali Hallab; Bronze medalist at a WOrld Championships and a Bronze and Silver medalist at the European Championships.
Aswell as Khavazhi Khatsigov who has won Gold at the World Championships.

So to say Nevin will be lucky to win a fight is very strange, I reckon it'd take a top 6/7 guy to beat him at least.
Barnes beats about half the guys at his weight so it's touch and go whether he gets through but you're right about Joyce, he's up against it and unless he draws against a fighter from one of the weaker region he could be seeing an early exit.

As for the Brits I reckon ye'll get no more than 2 medals. Gavin does indeed have a chance at Gold but the way some people are acting you'd swear he aleady has it around his neck. He could very well draw a top opponent in the first round and that might be it. However I do reckon he'll pick up a medal of some colour.

Price, Murray and Saunders are the other three with a chance for me, but the draw will have to be kind to Price as I can't really see him upsetting any of the top guys(Camarelle or Timurziev).

People predicting 3 Golds are forgetting how tough an Olympic medal is to win and thus why it is so highly valued.


Darren Sutherland definitely has the style most like a pro out of the 13 fighters than make up the British and Irish squads.
He really sits down on his punches and carries good power, he has stated his intention to turn pro after the Olympics no matter what his result and I can see him being a very successful professional.

[rooq]

Anyone think we are seeing the benefit from the Lennox/Nax fights in the 90s? Guys who were 12/13 back then now 10 years on were inspired by Lewis and Hamed?

funnily enough, the american representative at lightweight was inspired to start boxing because of naz.

but yeah, it would be amazing (if a little unlikely) for britain to come away with three golds. i'd be happy with three of four medals of any colour.

[TerribleTerry]

Frankie Gavin was Khan's main sparring partner in the run up to the last Olympics. He couldnt be better prepared for these games, as long as he can still drag himself down to the weight ok. With a decent draw I still fancy him to medal, with Gold being a realistic target.

Billy Joe Saunders will make a fantastic pro - he might be too young to really suceed at these Olympics (I remember watching Cotto get beaten by a far more physically mature Abdulaev in the Olympics - he batterd the Uzbekistan fighter when they met years later as pros) but I think out of the vest he could be the pick of the British/Irish fighters.

A medal haul of 3 -4 (of various colours) is plausible between the British and Irish fighters at these games. Its going to be a great spectacle!

[rooq]

Billy Joe Saunders will make a fantastic pro - he might be too young to really suceed at these Olympics (I remember watching Cotto get beaten by a far more physically mature Abdulaev in the Olympics - he batterd the Uzbekistan fighter when they met years later as pros) but I think out of the vest he could be the pick of the British/Irish fighters.

i rate billy-joe as well, but can you imagine the hype if he won a medal and turned pro straight away?

[E]

Talk of 3 gold medalists which would be unbelivable.

I remember when the 5 US gold medalists from LA 84 including Biggs, Breland and Holyfield debuted and the hullabaloo that followed them.

If we had 3 gold medalists in Bejing it would rival that, if not better it because our fighers would have done it in China.

Anyone think we are seeing the benefit from the Lennox/Nax fights in the 90s? Guys who were 12/13 back then now 10 years on were inspired by Lewis and Hamed? They were talking on Radio 5 liver earlier about these guys being motivated by Khan's success and to a degree that might be true but I would have thought this years Olympians were well into boxing before Amir Khan became a name?

I remember the 'Class of '84', as it was billed and the anticipation that met them turning over - Pernell Whitaker and Meldrick Taylor were the other gold medallists that debuted. The US won 8 gold medals that year. Paul Gonzales, Steve McCrory, Taylor, Whitaker, Jerry Page, Breland, Frank Tate, Henry Tillman and Biggs. Holyfield was said to have been robbed in the semis and got a bronze. Virgil Hill also got a silver. Unbelievable medal haul but somewhat diluted by the fact that Russia, Cuba and the other east Europeans boycotted the Games that year.

If we got 3 gold medals I would be amazed. Probably more realistic for us to get 3 medals. I also think that the added momentum and belief of this team owes more to the success of a very young Khan within the international amateur boxing format than what Naz/Lewis achieved as pros.

Incidently, a young Lennox Lewis got beaten by Biggs in the QFs in '84.

Biggs was hyped a lot at the time in the US. Comparasions with Ali were made, he did employ a similar style.

He started to look flaky when he struggled in some 'learning' fights - I think one with David Bey were he looked like he might not be the second coming.

Of course Biggs might have won a world title has his turning pro not coincided with a certain Mr Tyson and he was never the same after they fought and Tyson explained to Larry Merchant after that Biggs was crying 'like a girl' in the ring.

Holy got disqualified against Kevin Barry - I think after chinning him afer the bell. Barry went on to be an average pro and train Tua (I think.)

I seem to remember Biggs was considered lucky to beat Damiani and tate lucky to beat O'Suillivan.

Paul Gonzales boasted he was going to be a 6 weight world champion. He didn't get to be champ at one weight.

Henry Tillman beat Mike Tyson in the trials and went on to beat Willie De Witt in the final. In the Pros De Witt beat Tillman on points and Tyson anihillated him in 1 round.

Jerry Page struggled as a pro and disappeared.

Meldrick Taylor lost to Andy Minsker in the trials but won in the box-offs. Minsker went pro and retired in 1991 with a 12 -3 record and starred in Bruce Weber's odd docu-film 'Broken Noses'.

Actually I would be most interested in what Gonzales, Page and Misker are now doing.

[bennie]

Mando Muniz, Carlos Palomino, Ruben Castillo, Paul Gonzalez and a woman with great headlights last month at Mando Ramos' memorial service in California (pic courtesy of Frank Baltazar Snr).

Incidentally, check out Biggs schooling a young Lewis in the third and final round.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjUC6xys_QA

[Old bones Ian]

Jerry Page seemed to get rushed a bit in the pro's took on Terrence Alli in only his 9th fight, and lost to a peak Frankie Randell in his 13th fight.

Here's a little piece on Andy Minsker, sound's as if he's doing ok.

http://wweek.com/story.php?story=5713