With the world championships(and the top 8 qualifying for the Olympics) here are my top 16 ratings over the next few weeks starting at;
49kg.
1 Sheming (China)-who else.Olympic champ, Asian champ
2 Serdamba(Mong)-World champ
3 Barnes(Ireland)-Euro and Commonwealth champ
4 Ayrapetyan(Russia)- Russian champ, World bronze
5 Ryanroeng(Thai) Asian silver
6 Alizade(Azerbaijan) World youth , Euro gold.
7 Galanov(Euro silver, Russian R-up
8 Zhakipov(Kaz) Asai bronze.
9 Medina(Dom Rep) Pan-Am first qualifer winner
10 Shin Jong (Kor) World silver but losing form?
11 Matellon(Cuba) weak weight for them but maybe their man?
12 Y.Hernandez(Cuba) bronze in 2008 but fading?
13 Edwards(GB) euro bronze
14 de la Neive(Spain) 2010 euro bronze, consistant performer.
15 Danielyan(Arm)
!6 Byrd(USA) Petroleum countries champ.
Pehlivan(Turkey), Barringa(Philippians) Quipo(Ecuador) and the Jap Inoue are live outsiders.
If Sheming is to be beaten, look to Barnes(if he can avoid injury) or Serdamba, no-one else has the class or experience to beat him.
52kg
A very open weight this with Cuba not particularly strong and 7 or eight guys strong in Europe. Warren of the USA is consistent as is Aloyan but I feel one of the up coming guys can surprise here with no standout leader. Conlon, if he can escape from Burnett and Phelan in Ireland could be the fastest improver while Oubaali and Picardi have the experience.
1-Warren -USA World champ 2007
2-Aloyan-Euro champ 2010
3- Oubaali France-WSB 54kg finalist
4- Selby, Wales-Euro 2011 champ
5-Picardi, Italy-Olympic Bronze
6-Conlon, Ireland
7-Yafai-England-2010 Euro silver
8-Balaskin, Russia-£ Euro gold and 2011 Silver
9-Sattibayev-Kaz-Former world cadet champ.
10-Ekur-Turkey
11-Ermakov-Russia
12-Meza-Ecuador
13-Aguero-Dom.Rep-Pan-Am first Qualifer gold.
14-Ramirez-Cuba-World Youth 54kg gold.
15-Saludar-Phillip-Asian champ
16-Abdukhamidov-Azerbaijan
If there was a 17, then Singh, India, the Commonwealth champ.Shahpelenkgov also of Azerbaijan if selected could like Burnett of Ireland, go a long way.
56kg world amature ratings.
With 54 and 57 joined up, this weight is loaded and my top 16 could be read from the bottom up and make as much sense.
Nevin is IMO the best of the lot, only gone 22 he has met and either beaten or lost narrowly to almost all the top men. With no more weight problems that he had at 54 and with the WSB experience sharpening his offense he can win the gold.
1-Makarov-Ger- Euro 2010 57 gold.
2-Nevin-Ir-world bronze
3-Vododyyanov-Russia-world gold 2007
4-Gojan-Moldova-Euro 2011 gold.
5-Polyanskiy-Russia-Euro 2011 silver.
6-Petchkoom-Thai-Asian champ.
7-Shayimov-Uzbek-President cup 2009 gold.
8-Ulas-Turkey- World University Gold.
9-Dalakiev-Bul-World gold 2009
10-Abzalimov-Euro gold 2010.
11-Campbell-Euro gold 2008.
12-Alvarez-Cuba-PanAm qualifer gold.
13-Parrinello-Italy- Euro bronze.
14-Yafai-England-Euro 2010 silver.
15-Oudahi-Alg-Africian champ.
16-Forestal-Cuba-multi cuban champion.