ENEWS 5
Olympic edition
14 August 2004
Olympic Games preview
In the folowing paragraphs we will try to present the main contenders for the Olympic Games medal podium. The conclusions are based on my personal point of view, and take account of the fighters results over the last couple of years and their performance during the Pre-Olympic months.
283 competitors in 11 weight divisions will test their skills during a16-day marathon tournament (including one rest day before semifinals). Here are the names to focus on...........
48 kg
Favorites: Sergey Kazakov (RUS) and Yan Bartelemy (CUB)
The boxing “war” between Russia and Cuba will start in the light-flyweight division. Both fighters are unbeaten in Europe and America for the last three years. Kazakov, who is three times Euro champ, qualified for the Games during ECH in Pula. He’s the current world champion and became №1 last year in Bangkok, when scoring a comfortable victory in the final over Zou Chiming (CHA) 23:19. It’s interesting to mention that the same Chinese fighter crossed paths with Yan Bartelemy, whose mission was the defence of his world title from Belfast’01. The Cubans loss (15:22) was considered as the biggest surprise in the entire tournament.
Medal contenders: Zou Chiming (CHA), Pal Bedak (HUN)
23-year old Chiming became the first Chinese fighter to win a medal for his country in the history of the world championships. He managed to qualify for Athens in the first Asian tournament in Puerto Princesa (PHI). "I have been his coach for five years and he is the best boxer in China. We are hoping he can win a medal at the Olympics (in Athens) next year", said Zhang Quanliang head coach of the most populated country on our planet after last year’s heroism. Bedak is another young fighter, who is seeking glory. He’s the former European cadet champ and current №1 among the old continent’s juniors. The Hungarian met Kazakov at the semi-finals stage in Pula’s championships and lost by 16:25. But Bedak has a very attractive style and the high scoring of his fights puts put him in contention for breaking many records..
Watch out: Alfonso Pinto (ITA), Alexan Nalbandyan (ARM)
Italian Pinto was a surprise entry amongst the light-flyweight elite during ECH in Pula, where he reached the final. He won silver at the European Union championships in Madrid this year, but at the 51 kg limit. There he was scheduled to fight Jerome Thomas (51 kg), but didn’t enter the ring.
Nalbandyan got his ticket for the Olympics in the second European qualifier in Plovdiv, when he totally dominated all the four opponents he met. In the pre-Olympic tournament in Athens he stepped up to the flyweight division. Surprisingly the Armenian veteran beat Olympian Ron Siler (USA) and had a close fight with Cuban Yuriolkis Gamboa (CUB).
51 kg
Favorites: Georgi Balakshin (RUS), Jerome Thomas (FRA)
Balakshin the Russian has made big progress in the last three years showing great form during the Pula championships. If he maintains the momentum in Greece it will be very difficult for his opponents to beat him. However Balakshin, who is the two time Euro champ, will hold fresh memories from last years world championships, where he lost in quarterfinals!
Thomas is a person, who must always be considered amongst the favourites. The former world champ struggled a little in the Pula championships, but made the decisive jump to the flight for Greece in the second qualification tournament in Warsaw (POL). The Frenchman is the one who can match Balakshin, if he uses the best of his skills in the right time and place.
Medal contenders: Violito Payla (PHI), Yuriolkis Gamboa (CUB), Somjit Jongihor (THA)
Philippine, Violito Payla is one of the most experienced fighters here. Every year he travels to Europe and participates in one of the most prestigious amateur boxing tournaments. Payla secured his place at the first attempt at Puerto Princesa in January and has had enough time to scout and study the other contenders.
Jongihor too reached the Olympics via first Asian qualification. Tournament. The current world champ (and first one in the history of Thailand) became a hero in his homeland and was announced best sportsman for 2003. With a good draw he will have few problems reaching a medal winning level.
Pan American champion Gamboa was eliminated in the Worlds by Jongihor in one of the hottest bouts of the tournament by just one point. The Cuban bounced back to win several tournaments in Europe this year, but surprisingly lost to Rudolf Didy (SVK) by 19::32 in “Usti nad Labem”.
Watch out: Ahil Kumar (IND)
Boxing in India has recorded a big surge in the last couple of years. Kumar is the best fighter from the crop of Indian talent and although his best achievement until now is a gold medal at the Afro-Asian Games last year, he’s the fighter who may confuse the plans of the big favorites.
54 kg
Favorites: Guillermo Rigondeaux (CUB)
Guillermo Rigondeaux, known in Cuba as simply ‘Rigo’, is one of the pearls of amateur boxing. His incredible speed and technique secured for him the Olympic title in Sydney, when he was just 19 years old. Everyone who watched him the following year in Belfast, winning the world title, will remember what may be called the perfect fighter. Starting from 1998 he has recorded only one loss – in last years Bangkok meeting. There, Rigo was eliminated by future world champ Agasi Mamedov (Aze) 13:16. It seems that both fighters will meet again and only time can tell if the Cuban will take his much wanted revenge?
Medal contenders: Agasi Mamedov (AZE), Gennadi Kovalev (RUS), Bahirdirdjon Sultanov (UZB)
“I have been beaten twice by the Cuban so it was good to win today”, say AFP Mamedov right after the thrilling fight in Bangkok with Rigo. He lost to the Cuban in Sydney and in Belfast. The win brought partial revenge, but will he go on to cement the advantage? It seems not, if we take in mind the form of the Azerbaijani, a former European champ whilst fighting for Turkey. In ECH 2004 he was totally overplayed by Frenchman Ali Hallab. Mamedov then missed the second qualification in Plovdiv, due to injury and got the ‘last train’ to Athens in his home land – Baku.
Russian Kovalev was one of the undisputed European champions from Pula. In Croatia he overcame his opponents by huge margins but in the Bangkok final he was beaten by Mamedov 8:17, a loss the Russian coaching team put down to his young age
Sultanov is another young gun. He’s a very attractive fighter and one of the biggest hopes for Uzbekistan. The former world junior champion lost in a close fight with Kovalev during the semifinals of WCH 2003.
Watch out: Ali Hallab (FRA)
Frenchman, Hallab is among the best Euro fighters for the third year in a row. A child of the improved French National Team strategy, he continues to learn the secrets of boxing from tournament to tournament. If we flash back to Sydney and light-flyweight Brahim Asloum, we may compare a lot of common things between the winning ways of the current Olympic champion and ask ........’Why not Hallab for Olympic Champion 2004?’
57 kg
Favorites: Vitaly Tajbert (GER) and Luis Franco (CUB)
Tajbert impressed in the European championships, when he won his first major title in the men’s division. The Kazakhstan born German was hidden the by national team coaches and did not participate in international tournaments before the Games. The former world junior champ came back with silver from WCH 2003. Now the target is gold.
Franco as Tajbert is a gold medalist from the World Junior Championships in Budapest’00. During the Cuban tour in Europe and after qualifying he managed to outbox world champion Galib Jafarov (KAZ) in the same building that will hold the Olympic tournament – “Perestrieri hall”.
Medal contenders: Galib Jafarov (KAZ), Muideen Ganiyu (NGR)
The current World champion is always a strong bet. In the case of Jafarov it applies as well. He beat Tajbert in the battle for gold in Bangkok by 43:35. The fight was even in the first two rounds, but then Javarovs experience ruled the remainder of the fight.
Ganiyu is another African, who is considered as a future star. Competitors from the hottest continent don’t have the same financial resources as their colleagues from Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For this reason they rarely get the occasion to show themselves to the world. The Olympics gives them the chance to do so and Ganiyu is the person, who has talent to show and the qualities to be among the best.
Watch out: Konstantin Kupatadze (GEO)
Georgian, Kupatadze, is the fighter who threw out of the Athens tournament current Olympic bantamweight runner up – Raimkul Malakbekov (RUS). Kupatadze beat the Russian in Pula by only one point but issued a warning note to the favorites, ‘be warned when you are up next with Double K!’
60 kg
Favorites: Mario Kindelan (CUB)
Super Mario is entering his last competition at the age of 32. The Olympic and three times world champion has hundreds of fans all around the world. As professional wrestling has The Rock and Hulk Hogan, amateur boxing has a real entertainer in Kindelan. The Cuban is unbeaten for such a long time in the biggest competitions and will aim to finish in style his perfect career.
Medal contenders: Amir Khan (ENG), Dimitar Shtilianov (BUL) and Aydun Selchuk (TUR)
A strong European field will try to depose Kindelan. For young British sensation Amir Khan, Super Mario was only the second person in the men’s division to defeat him. At just 17-years old Pakistani born Khan has won everything that can be won in cadet and junior divisions since the middle of last year. He has a promising future but is it possible that his star will shine in Athens? Another star, but ten years older, Dimitar Shtilianov has the much needed experience. The two times Euro champ is Bulgarias biggest hope and whatever the outcome he has anounced that the Athens Games will be his last tournament and after the event he will continue as a coach. Selchuk is another Balkan Peninsula representative who hunts for Olympic glory. Capable of beating everyone in Europe he must show confidence in Athens to came back with at least a medal.
Watch out: Gyula Kate (HUN)
The Hungarian is another member of the golden team from the junior championships in Budapest. He’s always put amongst the favorites in European tournaments. Very strong and talented Kate is part of a new Hungarian boxing generation that includes rising stars the Bedak brothers.
64 kg
Favorites: Alexander Maletin (RUS)
The only thing that is missing in Maleti’s career is Olympic gold. Last year he climbed to the Super-lightweight division and the switch was a particular success as he lost in the previous world championships final to Willy Blain (FRA) by 13:32. 14 months later the Russian is in top shape, which was demonstrated in the Pula championships.
Medal contenders: Willy Blain (FRA), Yudel Johnson (CUB), Patric Lopez (VEN)
Blain has become a well known fighter in the last five-six years. Last year, he lived the biggest moment in his life, when he grabbed the world title. After Bangkok his form started to drop as was shown clearly in some national team duels and then in again in the European championships, when he lost to Ukrainian debutant Igor Pashchuk. The 64 kg weight limit will be always very special for spectators remembering Cuban Diogenes Luna in Sydney. With his tremendous style he became world champ in Belfast (stopping Bulgarian Shtilianov in the final). Luna was replaced by Yudel Johnson in the Cuban team and the newcomer showed that he quickly learnt a winning recipe during his journey to Europe in May and June. It’s strange to see a Venezuelan boxer among the best, but Patric Lopez is the talent that everyone in South America speaks about. He is the current Pan American champion and be sure he will be one of the rulers of super-lightweight division.
Watch out: Boris Georgiev (BUL) and Igor Paschuk (UKR)
Talent is the word that describes Georgiev most precisely. Just 18 years old he took the silver medal in Euro 2000, losing in a very close fight to Ramazan Palyani. The Bulgarian is waiting patiently for his moment and on his day is capable of beating everyone and losing to anyone! Igor Paschuk is one of the youngest Ukrainian hopes. Until ECH his best achievement was third place in the European junior championships in Sarajevo’01 but after shocking Willy Blain his name was on the lips of every boxing specialists and he followed up his success in Pula, defeating another top fighter – Boris Georgiev. I leave the preview for Paschuk, but he didn’t match weight in so Ukrainian is out of the tournament!
69 kg
Favorites: Oleg Saitov (RUS) and Lorenzo Aragon (CUB)
The first thing that passed through my mind when reviewing the welterweights is to make one very short prayer to the Greek god of draws. My hope is that both fighters will get the chance to compete through different channels. It will be a real shame if bad luck robs the fans of seeing a final between two times Olympic champ Oleg Saitov and two times world champ Lorenzo Aragon. The Russian is hunting for a place in history alongside Laszlo Papp, Felix Savon and Teofilio Stevenson, and Aragon is hunting for the only peak that he has yet to conquer!
Medal contenders: Andre Berto (HAI) and Ruslan Khairov (AZE)
Haiti sends a fighter to the Olympic Games for the first time. But Berto is more than just another simple competitor. He was the only member of the USA team, to come back with a medal from the last world championships in Bangkok. Unfortunately he was eliminated, but not in the ring, from the USA Olympic trials. Khairov is one of the veterans here. His luck is always linked with the name of Oleg Saitov the Russian who he has lost to, but always in very close fights.Once again here smells the possibility of revenge.
Watch out: Bulent Ulusoy (TUR)
Former European champion Ulusoy suffered some difficulties qualifying for the Games. He did so in Plovdiv, but was far away from his best days. A year ago in Bangkok he almost eliminated Lorenzo Aragon the mighty Cuban who managed to take the win with only one point (18:17). Bulent will need to find the same form if he is to succeed in Athens.
75 kg
Favorites: Gennadi Golovkin (KAZ), Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov (RUS), Andre Dirrell (USA)
If there is a tough division to be contested in the Athens Games, the Middleweight category wins without doubt. Three fighters have equal chances to be crowned as Olympic champions. The first of them, Gennadi Golovkin is the current world champion and experts predict a great future for him. Gaidarbekov became European in Pula and was announced as the best fighter of the championships. The Russian has great Olympic experience, reaching the final in Sydneyl, where he lost to Jorge Gutieres (CUB). Dirrell is considered the best USA hope. He won the Pre-Olympic test event in Athens, in which Golovkin and Cuban Yordanis Despaigne also participated.
Medal contenders: Oleg Mashkin (UKR)
I will mention only the Ukrainian, Oleg Mashkin here because the three favorites will almost certainly contest the medal positions.. As a former European champ (Perm 2002) he will always be counted among the best in the world. Last year he reached the final in Bangkok, but his fight with Golovkin was stopped in the second round in favour of Kazakhstan due to injury.
Watch out: Marian Simion (ROM)
Veteran Simion is the last reminder of the great Romanian generation, featuring his brother Dorel, Lucian Bute, Crinu Raicu, Leonard Doroftei and Francisc Vastag (who is now head coach of the national team). Former world champion and runner up at Sydney he still has something left and whilst an outsider may feature if the old spirit is rekindled.
81 kg
Favorites: Evgeny Makarenko (RUS)
With only one loss in national and international competitions in the last four years the captain of the Russian team is looking for gold. He was in Sydney, but only as sparring partner to his country mate Alex Lebziak. He has learned how to win and it’s time for him to teach those lessons to other fighters in the division!
Medal contenders: Utkirbek Haydarov (UZB), Helias Pavlidis (GRE), Ali Ismailov (AZE)
Haydarov moves up a category from middleweight to light-heavyweight. As a former world champion he has enough experience to reach the higher level. The best Greek fighter Pavlidis shone in the Pre-Olympic test in Athens, when he overcame three strong Olympians. During the games proper he will get bigger support from the crowd, which can be decisive not only for the boxer mood, but also on the judges’ reactions. Ismailov is one of the toughest veterans in the entire Olympic field with maybe the strongest punch in the division. I should mention that the previous Olympic champ at the 81 kg weight limit possessed a moustache. Ali also has such!
Watch out: Yildirim Tarhan (TUR)
The Turk survived a very heavy knockdown during the “Strandja cup” qualifier in Plovdiv from Olympic Games silver medalist Rudolf Karj (CZE) to win the quota. Tarhan is very quick, well prepared and tactically proficient. On good days he will provide a stern test show for everyone even Makarenko.
91 kg
Favorites: Odlanier Solis (CUB)
Another two times world champion, who is missing an Olympic title. The inheritor of Felix Savons mantle Solis receives great respect from his opponents. The pressure on him is huge, as he attempts to fill the place left by the great Cuban. Last year in Bangkok he was nearly surprised by young Russian Alexander Alexeev, but succeeded to take the gold with an 18:15 victory.
Medal contenders: Alexander Alexeev (RUS), Viktor Zuev (BLR), Vugar Alakparov (AZE)
Alexeev got the place of Sydney Games runner up Sultanahmed Ibrahimov in Nikoay Khromov’s team. The Russian bogatir, who wasn’t able to defeat Felix Savon four years ago, will shake fingers for his country mate. Alexander made the first step by winning the Euro title in Pula. Zuev is one of the most attractive fighters from the Old continent. A former European cadet and junior champ he reached the finals in Pula after a very close first round and tied score in a battle with Aleexev. The Russian managed to place a counter strike bomb and KO-ed the Belarusian. Alakparov won the qualification tournament in Warsaw beating in the final Italian Daniel Betti (22:20). According to the Azerbaijani coaching team, along with Agasi Mamedov and Ali Ismailov, he’s the other big medal hope. He got bronze in Sydney, now it’s time for something brighter.
Watch out: Emmanuel Izonritei (NGR)
The African champion is very higly rated in his country. Boxing experts say that he can’t find sparring partners, so he is training with elephants! Of course it can’t be true, cos it’s a fact that elephants aren’t so calm when you beat the hell out of them as is the case with some fighters. On another note, Nigeria has a record of great achievement in the Olympic Games heavy divisions, and we may expect some surprises from Izonrieti.
+91 kg
Favorites: Alexander Povetkin (RUS)
Povetkin is another unbeaten fighter in international competition for the last 36 months. He is very convincing in the ring, using his power punches and rarely moves back. The Russian is a real pleasure to watch. With two European diamonds and one world, he’s waiting for the Olympic jewel to decorate his championships crown.
Medal Contenders: Roberto Cammarelle (ITA), Rustam Saidov (UZB), Sebastian Kober (GER)
Cammarelle is the most dangerous opponent of Povetkin. The Italian has lost four times to the Russian, but two of them – finals of Euro 2002 and 2004, were very close. Roberto missed last year worlds due to a back injury, but came back in Pula, where lack of experience or stamina in the fourth round deprived him of the win. Saidov is a bronze medalist from Sydney. He lost to Povetkin in the semis of WCH 2003, but now he’s in great form. The Uzbek fighter scored wins over 80 % of the other contenders in the Olympic ring. Kober is the clear example of the renowned German boxing school. Always among the first four rated fighters in the world and Europe, but missing the final step. German persistence is well known and why not Athens to go the whole way to a medals position?
Watch out: Victor Bisbal (PUR)
The Puerto Rican is the person who beat highly regarded American hope and PanAm champion Jason Estrada in the preliminary duels before the Games. Bisbal qualified somewhat uncomfortably for the Olympic tournament with a 23:19 victory over George Garcia (MEX) in the last American decisive event in Rio de Janeiro (BRA). He has made a lot of improvement and with some luck may pick up a medal..
For conclusion I want to say that we will be happy to see your point of view for each weight category of the Olympic boxing tournament. The place to write your opinion is Olympic boxing forum (http://www.eaba.org/forum). The EABA Forum was developed with the Olympics in mind. First with the news…………………drop in today!
Olympic Games 2004 boxing tournament
Schedule:
Saturday 14 August
13:30 - 16:45
Men's Middle Weight (75kg) Preliminaries
Men's Light Heavy Weight (81kg) Preliminaries
Men's Invitation Place Bout
19:30 - 22:45
Men's Middle Weight (75kg) Preliminaries
Men's Light Heavy Weight (81kg) Preliminaries
Men's Invitation Place Bout
Sunday 15 August
13:30 - 16:30
Men's Light Welter Weight (64kg) Preliminaries
Men's Welter Weight (69kg) Preliminaries
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Light Welter Weight (64kg) Preliminaries
Men's Welter Weight (69kg) Preliminaries
Monday 16
August 13:30 - 16:30
Men's Feather Weight (57kg) Preliminaries
Men's Light Weight (60kg) Preliminaries
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Feather Weight (57kg) Preliminaries
Men's Light Weight (60kg) Preliminaries
Tuesday 17 August
13:30 - 16:30
Men's Fly Weight (51kg) Preliminaries
Men's Bantam Weight (54kg) Preliminaries
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Fly Weight (51kg) Preliminaries
Men's Bantam Weight (54kg) Preliminaries
Wednesday 18 August
13:30 - 17:00
Men's Light Fly Weight (48kg) Preliminaries
Men's Heavy Weight (91kg) Preliminaries
19:30 - 23:00
Men's Light Fly Weight (48kg) Preliminaries
Men's Super Heavy Weight (+91kg) Preliminaries
Thursday 19 August
13:30 - 16:30
Men's Welter Weight (69kg) Preliminaries
Men's Light Heavy Weight (81kg) Preliminaries
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Light Welter Weight (64kg) Preliminaries
Men's Welter Weight (69kg) Preliminaries
Friday 20 August
13:30 - 16:30
Men's Feather Weight (57kg) Preliminaries
Men's Light Weight (60kg) Preliminaries
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Bantam Weight (54kg) Preliminaries
Men's Feather Weight (57kg) Preliminaries
Saturday 21 August
13:30 - 16:30
Men's Fly Weight (51kg) Preliminaries
Men's Middle Weight (75kg) Preliminaries
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Light Fly Weight (48kg) Preliminaries
Men's Middle Weight (75kg) Preliminaries
Sunday 22 August
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Light Welter Weight (64kg) Quarterfinals
Men's Welter Weight (69kg) Quarterfinals
Men's Heavy Weight (91kg) Quarterfinals
Monday 23 August
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Bantam Weight (54kg) Quarterfinals
Men's Feather Weight (57kg) Quarterfinals
Men's Super Heavy Weight (+91kg) Quarterfinals
Tuesday 24 August
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Light Fly Weight (48kg) Quarterfinals
Men's Light Weight (60kg) Quarterfinals
Men's Light Heavy Weight (81kg) Quarterfinals
Wednesday 25 August
19:30 - 21:30
Men's Fly Weight (51kg) Quarterfinals
Men's Middle Weight (75kg) Quarterfinals
Friday 27 August
13:30 - 16:00
Men's Fly Weight (51kg) Semifinals
Men's Feather Weight (57kg) Semifinals
Men's Light Welter Weight (64kg) Semifinals
Men's Middle Weight (75kg) Semifinals
Men's Heavy Weight (91kg) Semifinals
19:30 - 22:30
Men's Light Fly Weight (48kg) Semifinals
Men's Bantam Weight (54kg) Semifinals
Men's Light Weight (60kg) Semifinals
Men's Welter Weight (69kg) Semifinals
Men's Light Heavy Weight (81kg) Semifinals
Men's Super Heavy Weight (+91kg) Semifinals
Saturday 28 August
19:30 - 22:25
Men's Fly Weight (51kg) Final Bout
Men's Fly Weight (51kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Feather Weight (57kg) Final Bout
Men's Feather Weight (57kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Light Welter Weight (64kg) Final Bout
Men's Light Welter Weight (64kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Middle Weight (75kg) Final Bout
Men's Middle Weight (75kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Heavy Weight (91kg) Final Bout
Men's Heavy Weight (91kg) Medal Ceremony
Sunday 29 August
13:30 - 17:00
Men's Light Fly Weight (48kg) Final Bout
Men's Light Fly Weight (48kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Bantam Weight (54kg) Final Bout
Men's Bantam Weight (54kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Light Weight (60kg) Final Bout
Men's Light Weight (60kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Welter Weight (69kg) Final Bout
Men's Welter Weight (69kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Light Heavy Weight (81kg) Final Bout
Men's Light Heavy Weight (81kg) Medal Ceremony
Men's Super Heavy Weight (+91kg) Final Bout
Men's Super Heavy Weight (+91kg) Medal Ceremony
“Peristeri hall”
Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall (PBH) The Boxing competition will be held at a new venue in the Municipality of Peristeri in the West Attica region. This new Indoor Hall will have a total capacity of 8,400 seats during Games-time.
The area of construction is near the National Road and a close distance from the Olympic Village, Dekeleia Training Complex, and the center of Athens where the accommodation of the National Boxing Federation will be located.
The new competition venue will be serviced by two metro stations (Sepolia – Aghios Antonios).
Total land surface: 60,900 sq m
Press seats: 250
Official Medical/Weigh-In
The official weigh-in for each weight category will take place at 08:00 on
13 August, before the draw. The weighing for the respective weight
divisions will be held daily at 08:00-09:00, at the Boxing Training Site
located within the “Dekelia Training Complex” (next to the Olympic
Village).The daily weighing is conducted under the supervision of officials
appointed by AIBA. Competitors must weigh within the limits of the
appropriate category and no tolerance shall be allowed. Weighting
control scales will be available to all competitors at the training site.
Event Personnel
ATHENS 2004 Competition Management
Competition Manager: Ourania Vrondou
Administration Manager: Olga Akinidou
Technical Operations Manager: Yiannis Grigoreas
Results Manager: Dimitris Spontas
Official Services Coordinator: Natasa Pontika
Federation Officials
AIBA President: Prof. Anwar Chowdhry (Pakistan)
AIBA Secretary General: Caner Doganeli (Turkey)
AIBA Technical Delegates: Agajan Abiyev (Azerbaijan)
Technical Officials Lounge
AIBA Executive Members have access to a Lounge situated next to
the FoP, and all referees/judges have access to a Technical Officials
Lounge located next to the TO Change Rooms. Services offered at
Technical Officials Lounge include:
Soft drinks, tea, coffee, water, snacks & fruit
Telephone
Television
Books, magazines, newspapers
Chairs, tables, coffee tables
Meal Breaks
Meals may be purchased from the concession outlets at the venue.
Alternatively,Technical Officials may purchase their meals from the
many food outlets and restaurants at nearby Bournazi Square, using
their per diem.
Technical Officials Seating at the Venue
During competition, an appropriate number of spectator seats have
been reserved for Technical Officials in the J stand of the accredited
seating area.
Credits: http://www.warriorboxing.com Official Olympic boxing guide downloaded from http://www.aiba.net and Official web site of the Games http://www.athens2004.com
Viktor Rybakov: Cubans are very calm
Russian journalist Natalia Kazanova and vice-president of the Russian boxing association Viktor Rybakov had a very interesting discussion. The three times European champion and bronze medalists from Montreal’76 and Moscow’98 spoke about the chances of the team in the upcoming Olympics. Here are the most interesting parts of the interview.
- Viktor Grigorievich, what are the chances of Sbornaia in Olympic Games?
- At the European championships in Pula we won nine gold medals. This is a very strong presentation. It adds to last year success at the World championships, when we became team champions with three titles. Russian boxing is now on a very high level, maybe the best ever. About the games I am sure that everyone of our 11 fighters may come back with gold.
- Is this the reality, everyone to grab a gold medal?
- We must always want the best but at the same time must keep our feet on the ground. Before the Olympic Games in Montreal people prediceted a full victory. We were the best in Europe, had beaten the Americans and Cubans. But at the Games the result was tragic – not a single gold.
- Is it different now?
- Yes, before we were constantly in training camps. Training too much and losing freshness. Now everything is right. For example the head coach of the team Nikoay Khromov sent Oleg Saitov to a not so strong tournament. The idea was that he wouldn’t meet the best fighters. This was done especially for Oleg. Khromov knows his psychology very well. Gennady Kovalev also received some time for resting, so as not to overload him mentally. He’s just 20-years old, but is European champion, second in the world and winner of some international tournaments.
- What about preparation of the rivals?
- I was in Cuba and saw how they train. Their gyms have some sort of dread. They do not have windows, but it’s ok, because it’s hot in Cuba and they can’t be cooled. In the place of bags are balloon looking things?. We have much better training facilities. At the same time the Cubans are going into the ring and giving 100 % . And our fighters, they may be very strong, but they are often affected by psychological tension. This is the reason why half of the potential is lost. Cubans have great calmness.
- But aren’t there psychologists?
- Yes there are, but every person is the best psychologist, coach and medicine for himself. When the competitor starts to understand himself he raises a level.
Credits: Natalia Kazanova (http://pressapersonal.narod.ru) and Russian Olympic magazine
Guillermo Rigondeux: They must kill me to defeat me
Three world champions share their mind with the readers of Cuban newspaper “Trabajadores” just a few days before the strart of the event. Coming from a surprising loss at the world championships last year Guillermo Rigondeaux (54 kg) is now looking ahead to take back his crown as №1 in the world.
“Now, I am preparing myself to the maximum for that event. I feel very well and I will be looking for the title again. After the defeat last year I redoubled my efforts so that this time there will be no surprises. I know that they have studied me a lot, but in any case I believe that I will leave the event as champion”, thinks Rigo.
"I believe that Mamedov is the rival of whom I should be careful. I do not trust anybody, it will be necessary to kill me in the ring to defeat me”, added the current Olympic champion.
Two times Olympic champion Odlanier Solis (91 kg) is sure that an Olympic title is the only target in Athens. “I believe that I have the experience and youth necessary to be champion. I know all of my opponents. I have defeated them in recent years. Of course, I know that I must take care of all of them once again, especially those from the old socialist countries.
In his country Odlanier is considered as inheritor of three times Olympic champ Felix Savons mantle as Cuba’s best.
"To occupy the position left by Savón requires great commitment, because I must continue harvesting the victories which had to us become customary. Now, when we are not rivals, Felix gives me very good advice. I must thank him for his confidence and aim to bring victories for Cuba”, assured Solis
Lorenzo Aragon is known as the record man in his country. He has been national champ in six different divisions!!!
"It is my greatest opportunity, because to be in the Olympic Games is something great. I know that I have real opportunities to take the gold medal”, says Aragon.
"I have already boxed against all the men in my division during these last four years, and I have defeated them all, including Russian Oleg Saitov. I beat the two times Olympic champ in an international match last year and the European tour helped me to reach my optimal sporting form. Remember that I still have the nailed thorn of Atlanta’96, when they took to me to the last hour without preparation. Even then I was near the medals. This time will be different”, says Lorenzo.
Credits: Cuban newspaper “Trabajadores” (http://www.trabajadores.co.cu)
Dominique Nato, French national team director: To become Olympic champion you must beat entire world.
- Mr. Nato, what is your overall evaluation after the qualifying tournaments, with six French boxers going to Athens?
- It’s equal to our means and expectations. I'm just sorry for John Dovi who definitly could be in the team.
- Are you satisfied with the qualification system and do you think there is a need to improve something?
- We like it. The rules are the same for the entire world so the best fighters will go to the Games.
- How passed the last stages of preparation. How do you find the form of fighters after training bouts with top competitors from Cuba, Germany, Romania and others?
- Last stage passed very well. We were alongside 60 fighters, who qualified for the Olympic Games.
We met different levels of opposition with athletes, who have the same objectives. It was very important from a psychological point of view that we were hosts of the training camp. At this stage, our fighters can realise that they have nothing less that the best in the world.
- Is everything ok, are there any sort of injuries or problems in the team?
- Nothing important to mention.
- Do you think that Redouane Asloum may double the success of his brother Brahim, or at least get close to a title?
- We hope so. It depends very much on the draw.
- Jerome Thomas is one of the big favorites in the flyweight division. Who are his most dangerous opponents? And how he will overcome world champion Somjit Jongihor and Euro champ Georgi Balakshin, whom Jerome lost to in the last two big championships?
- All the opponents, who will face Thomas, gave him the status of favorite. Russian Balakshin and Cuban Gamboa will be most serious opponents. But we are cautious of everybody, because to become Olympic champion you must beat the entire world.
- The bantamweight division is maybe the toughest in the Olympics. Ali Hallab is considered as one of the stronger fighters there,
but how he will deal with the big favorites Guilermo Rigondeaux and Gennadi Kovalev?
- Agree about the division and agree that Ali Hallab is a medal podium candidate.
- Khedafi Djelkhir was one of the biggest surprises in Euro 2004. How you count his chances in Athens?
- He has kept the qualities, he showed in Pula and has developed more from the technical aspect. At least he will present himself at the same level as he was in Pula.
- It seems like Willy Blain has some drop of his form after the world championships in Bangkok. What is the recipe of getting back to winning ways? And what’s the future of Willy after the Games?
- Willy Blain ihas been part of all World and European podiums in last four years. I think he needs big stakes to inspire him. Athens looks like one of them. About his future, it depends very much on the Games and the results.
- Xavier Noel is the other new name with Djelkhir, who made great progress this year, but will his experience be enough for championships like the Olympic tournament?
- We hope so. Xavier Noel is capable on his best days of beating everyone.
- What’s the situation with John Dovi, will he turn professional after the Games?
- He will not. We will see in September what sort of strategy will be used for his situation. We are thinking, with him about change to the technical staff.
- What is your opinion, who will be the winner of the battle between Russia and Cuba at Olympics?
- It will be very close.
- What is your prediction, about the “Val Barker” cup?
- It’s very difficult to define the best fighter. Impossible to answer before watching the competition.
- Except glory, what will be the reward of the possible medal winners?
- The prizes are fixed by Ministry of sport. They are the same for all the French medalists and for all Olympic disciplines.
- Ten days before the Olympics Games, what is your objective?
- We don't think about a number of medals, because there are too many parameters to consider. Our goal will be to achieve the same result as in Sydney at least. Each of our six fighters can reach the podium...
- Do you count the judges in the parameters?
- It seems that when we come to the Olympics Games, the judges are fair. They whee fair in Sydney, I presume it'll be the same in Athens.
Credits: With special thanks to Valerie from French boxing association and Christian Chataignier, editor of French boxing news web site “Netboxe” (http://www.netboxe.com)
Robert Voy, President USA boxing: The world will be surprised that we are a stronger team
- How paced the last phase of preparations of USA team
- We have had several duals, and competed against Germany, Mexico and Korea in the USOC sponsored Titan Games in Atlanta. The team finished fine tuning training in training in Colorado Springs, CO., and is now in Athens.
- Do you like the qualification system for Olympics, and is there something more, which may help to improve the selection of the best boxers for the strongest tournament in the world?
- The qualification system is necessary to provide the best and most equal talented boxers, and the safest Olympic competition. The only suggestion I have is that the Qualification tournaments be held in the Olympic year and not the year before. USA Boxer are very young and in one year's time can grow out of a weight class, lose later in our national elimination tournaments, and may not end up the Olympian.
- What are your expectations for the Games before the start of tournament? In your point of view, which fighters have the biggest chances to get the medals?
- We have qualified nine of our best and the world will be surprised that we are a stronger team. It would not be good for me to identify our potential medalists, but I'm looking for four or more medals. We have the potential for a gold medal to be amongst them. That will be the first Gold since David Reid in Atlanta.
- Regarding your team, who do you think may “throw a bomb” in Athens eliminating well known favorites in his weight division.
- Now Ognian, that would ruin the fun of wondering where our strength may be.
- USA missed Olympic title in Sidney, is there a danger that will happen again in Athens?
- I'm sticking to my word-there is Gold in Athens for the USA Boxing Team.
- Who will win the boxing war Cuba - Russia?
- As a Las Vegas resident and occasional wagerer, I'm betting on a draw.
- Who is the favorite for winner of “Val Barker” cup?
- That's a tough one and difficult to predict without being in Athens and witnessing the competition.
- What sort of prize money and awards will get American fighters for winning gold/respectively silver and bronze medal?
- USA Olympians are not supported by government, state, or military service. USA Boxing survives on sponsorships and financial assistance from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Olympic committee has committed the following to all U.S. Olympians who medal--$25,000 for Gold, $15,000 for Silver and $10,000 for Bronze.
Credits: Olympic boxing forum http://www.eaba.org/forum
Three Azer starts target the gold
Three stars of the Azerbaijan team spoke to ENEWS about their hopes in the Olympic Games tournament. All of them are medal contenders and well known in boxing world. Agasi Mamedoiv became world champ last year, but in the following European championships failed to qualify for Athens. “I met a very strong French fighter in Croatia. At the time I had some minor injury problems, which also played a part in my defeat – explained the former European champion – I got the quota in Baku, when I felt very comfortable.”
Preparations passed very well for Mamedov. With his teammates he was in Azerbaijan for a common training camp with the Kazakhstan and China teams.
“My main weapon in the Olympics will be the speed of my shots. I train very hard to improve to a perfect level this element of my ability. It is not my first time in the Olympic Games, so I don’t feel nervous. Most dangerous will be the fighters from Turkey and Russia. At the Olympics there aren’t weak fighters. I know all my opponents, and hope that my four years of effort will be rewarded. In my career I have a full pack of medals from world and European championships. I am missing only the Olympic gold”, adds the 24-year old talent
Ali Ismailov also has some Olympic memories. In the Sydney Games he reached the quarter final stage. “I underestimated my opponent from Uzbekistan. After the first three rounds I was ahead on the scorecards, but became weak in the last part of the bout. I hope this time not to make such an error”, said Ismailov.
The strongest weapon of this 30-year old fighter is attack!
“As my first coach Rauf Djabarov said, the best defense is attack. From the first second of each round I am trying to take the initiative and to dictate the rhythm of the fight”, explains Ismailov.
In his opinion, in the light-heavyweight division he has five strong opponents, who are contenders for medals.
“In Greece I will cross the road with them. Most dangerous is two times European and world champion Evgeny Makarenko. I also have in mind the Cuban fighter and representatives of Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.”
Heavyweight Vugar Alekperov won a bronze medal in Sydney when he was only 19-years old. “I was too young and my calmness in the ring wasn’t perfect. In Australia I needed a more positive mood. If I had it, maybe the medal color would be different? Now I believe in my forces” states the Azerbaijani boxer.
In Sydney he lost in the semifinal of the middleweight division to future champ Jorge Gutieres. Now there will be other strong opponents. “Participants from Russia, Cuba, France, Romania, Hungary and Ukraine have the best chances in Athens. My main opponents are Cuban and Russian. But I switch my training especially for them”, finished Alekperov.
Credit: Azerbaijan sport journalist Teymur Tushiev and his edition “Echo” (http://www.echo-az.com)
Kazakhstan team gather secret force with horse meat
Kazakhstan are pinning their hopes of Olympic boxing gold on traditional nomadic fare and will ship horse meat and mare's milk to Athens to boost their fighters' stamina. Kazakh boxing team coach Yermakhan Ibraimov, confessed plain yet energizing nomadic food had been the key to his own success.
"Seeing me off to Sydney, my father gave me horse meat and kymyz," the Olympic champion told the popular “Karavan” weekly.
The slightly heady, centuries-old kymyz is fermented mare's milk, treasured by the Kazakhs as a fizzy cold drink in the summer heat.
"I believe this helped me win my medal. While in a foreign land, your strength doubles once you've tried the meat and have drunk kymyz. It goes without saying, we will take horse meat and kymyz to Athens," he added.
Credits: Australian Olympic Games “Living room” and “Reuters” agency
Polish hopes are to Alexei Kuziemski
Polish boxing society are pinning their hopes in Athens on the three fighters that will represent the country. Andrzej Rzany (51 kg), Andrzej Liczik (54 kg) and Alexey Kuziemski (81 kg) will try to bring glory for their compatriots. Head coach of the team - Ludwik Buczynski considers Aleksy Kuziemski (81 kg) to be the strongest out of the whole team. “His biggest assets are strength and durability. Liczik has great technique, but he lost some power in his right hand. Andrzej Rzany can go far in the tournament if the draw turns out favorable”, assessed Buczynski.
“But the one I feel sorry most for is Marius Wach (+91 kg) who beat all of Europe and half of the world, including Cuba, and didn’t get into the Olympics”, added the specialist. The Polish giant failed to qualify. He reached the decisive battle for an Olympic ticket at each of three qualification tournaments, but failed to make the final step.
“Our team is very well prepared and the spirit is high”, says Buczynski.
Credits: Marcin and entire team of Polish boxing news (http://www.polskiboks.pl)
Sued for assault Australian will compete in Athens
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has cleared boxer Peter Wakefield to compete at next month's Athens Olympics despite being on bail over an alleged assault charge. The light flyweight is one of three men charged with breaking into a Para Hills West home in 2002 and beating a man with a baseball bat and an iron bar while saying "we are going to kill you . . . you're dead". The “Adelaide Advertiser newspaper” reported that the 26-year-old fighter had been scheduled to stand trial this month with two co-accused but the court case had been postponed until June 2005. The paper said Wakefield's trial was postponed at a hearing in May because of his likely selection to compete in the 48kg division at Athens.
"Wakefield has pleaded not guilty and the court has varied his bail conditions to allow him to join the team in France and then go on to Athens for the Games," AOC spokesman Mike Tancred told reporters.
"There is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty and on that basis he ... will move into the (athletes') village in a few weeks," he said.
"At this stage, he will compete," Tancred said.
But later South Australia Premier Mike Rann ordered an investigation into why an alleged violent home invader was bailed so he could box for Australia at the 2004 Olympics. Mr Rann said he learned Athens-bound Elizabeth Grove boxer Peter Wakefield faced criminal charges only when it was revealed by “The Advertiser”. He has asked the Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, for a report on the case, declining to comment further "until I know the facts".
Wakefield believes he is in good form and could become Australia's first Olympic boxing medallist since Spike Cheney in 1988.
"I think I've got a good chance, yes," he said of his medal hopes.
Credits: Australian Olympic Games “Living room” (http://www.livingroom.org.au/olympics/a ... oxing.html)
Olympic justice for Trevor Stewardson
As you read in a previous edition of ENEWS Canadian light-heavyweight Trevor Stewardson was in knockdown after the refusal of Canadian Olympic committee to put him into the Olympic team. But after passing the hardest fight in his life he managed to score a second decisive win and secure his place in the Athens Games. Here is what happened with the unedited words of the best amateur boxing statistician in the world and at the same time technical director of Canadian boxing association Matt Mizerski:
“Well, our "battle" with the Olympic Committee ended up in ‘Athletes Dispute Resolution’, which is an organization to resolve different problems
related to athletes. When you decide to go to ADR you have to sign an agreement that the ADR decision will be respected and final. The Judge appointed to this case listened to the arguments of both parties-Olympic Committee and Boxing Canada. We were able to convince the Judge that these three athletes have earned the right to go to Olympics. In the first round the Judge accepted only Gaudet and Pascal but we did not give up. Our athletes representative, a former boxer who is a rookie lawyer now, Ryan Savage, made additional attempts to convince the Judge to re-open Trevor Stewardsons case again. Our young lawyer, Ryan Savage used all the expertise he learned in boxing and influenced the Judge to accept Trevor, as well. Congratulation to Ryan Savage who is on the right track to become an excellent sport lawyer and to Trevor who will be able to prove himself during the Games in Athens. All together the Team effort of our Executive Committee, Technical Committee, Executive Director, Technical Director, Athletes Rep paid off -all five boxers who have qualified through Americas Continental
Qualifications will be going to the Games. The justice has been served but all this mess was not necessary in the first place. Now the athletes preparation to the Games has been affected, the preparation program had to be altered. Nevertheless we hope that our boys will do their best at the Olympics.”
Just to add something more. During the fight the “Cougar boxing club” (http://www.cougarboxing.com) started an initiative, in which all, who wanted to help gather together their forces with phone calls, e-mails or simple mails to different authorities helped “Trevor realize his dream to represent his country as an Olympic athlete”. Quote is of course form the editor of the official page of “Cougar boxing club”.
Credits: Matt Mizerski and “Cougar boxing club” (http://www.cougarboxing.com)
Klitchko promises pro contracts to Ukraine medalists
World heavyweight champion Vitali Klitchko promises that he will secure professional contracts with his promotional company to Ukrainian fighters who come back with medals from the Olympic Games. The former world amateur champion visited the team before he left for Athens, Koncha-zaspe training camp. He shared his experience and told the fighters how they may beat the problems and difficulties during the Olympics. Vitali,Older of the famous brothers will do commentary for the Olympic Games boxing tournament for three countries - Russia, Germany and Ukraine.
Credits: Russian boxing forum (http://www.boxing.ru/forum) and Ukrainian newspaper "Korespondent" (http://www.korrespondent.net)
Doping cops hit boxing
Kenyan fighter David Munyasia (54 kg) was thrown out of the 2004 Games just four days before the draw after becoming the first competitor to test positive in Athens for a banned drug. "David Munyasia has been excluded from the Athens Olympic Games after testing positive for cathine, a prohibited stimulant," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told reporters.
The substance derives from the leaf of the qat plant, commonly chewed as a recreational drug in east Africa.
But IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch said it was unclear how the 24-year-old bantamweight came to absorb it. "There was no explanation in his defence," Schamasch said.
It was the first positive case among more than 200 dope tests conducted in Athens since late July among athletes arriving for the Games, which begin on Friday. Six others have been barred recently for failing pre-Olympic tests elsewhere.
Munyasia, who had been training in Cuba, was the only boxer left in Kenya's 40-strong Olympic squad after light -flyweight medal hope Suleiman Bilali dropped out due to injury. Bilali, a gold medalist at the Pan-African games in Abuja last year, suffered severe injuries when he was attacked by thugs during an early morning jog outside his home in the sprawling Eastleigh residenial district in Nairobi in January.
AIBA offered Namibia the chance to send a boxer to replace Kenya's David Munyasia, who tested positive for a recreational drug. The Namibian Olympic Committee said it would be impossible to get their boxer to Athens in time for the official weigh-in on Friday. This means the competition starting on Saturday is expected to feature 284 boxers instead of the initial 286.
Credits: “Reuters” agency (http://www.olympics.reuters.com) and Official site of Athens 2004 (http://www.athens2004.com)
34 Referees/Judges at Olympics
AIBA decided to use 34 fighters for Olympic Games. Sandag Bayasgalan (MGL) will serve as reserve. Here is full list of officials
Africa (6)
Athmen Lazizi (ALG)
Mohamed Elseyed Touma (EGY)
Thabo Victor Mohapi (LES)
Mbemap Moise Mfongwot (CAM)
Mthanduzo Moroka (BOT)
Mohamed Braham (TUN)
America (6)
Fernando Pedroso (CUB)
Gerardo Montero (DOM)
Jose Villa (USA)
David Sandoval (MEX)
Pat Fiacco (CAN)
Jose Bonet (PUR)
Asia (8)
Ghulam Hussain Patni (PAK)
Arturo Vidal (PHI)
Seanglai Somsak (THA)
Yeluissiz Dyussekov (KAZ)
Stanislav Butayev (UZB)
Nurmuhamed Potdiyev (TKM)
Wang Jiabo (CHN)
Pkm Raja (IND)
Europe (13)
Sokol Sokolov (BUL)
Omer Coskun (TUR)
Niftali Guliyev (AZE)
Yevgeniy Sudakov (RUS)
Hekan Bergman (SWE)
Claudio De Camillis (ITA)
Zbignew Gorski (POL)
Johany Maden (FRA)
Erik Dreke (GER)
Jozsef Dolmanyos (HUN)
Georgios Kaouris (GRE)
Zacharias Michanikos (GRE)
Vasileos Pitsinelis (GRE)
Oceania (1)
Stephen Donkin (AUS)
We are obliged to make a specification. In the last ENEWS in the article “R/J for Olympics will receive secret letters” only one source was indicated, the official web page of AIBA (http://www.aiba.net). In the story we mentioned information that wasn’t from the article, posted into AIBA’s page. For the following phrases we used another source, who prefers to stay anonymous: “35 R/J, who will officiate at the Olympic Games boxing tournament, will receive a confidential personal letter from the president of AIBA prof. Anwar Chowdhry informing them of their successful selection. The final list will only be known several days before the biggest sports event in the world… The idea is that there will be little chance for ‘outside influence’ over selected officials.”
Our team apologizes if mentioning only the source http://www.aiba.net and not the other due to a misunderstanding.
Credits: AIBA office in Lausanne (It’s the source of the R/J list, not the secret source that gave us information about the article “R/J for Olympics will receive secret letters”:)
ENEWS project aim is to try to improve the amateur boxing information stream in Europe and World wide. We have no precise period for publishing ENEWS, but hope in the future with common efforts to be in a position set some sort of time between editions. This Newsletter is sent to nearly 500 e-mail addresses, featuring national associations, officials, coaches, fighters, journalists, news agencies, fans, members of Olympic boxing forum (http://www.eaba.org/forum) etc .ENEWS is distributed via the Internet thanks to the president of Stockholm boxing association Lars Westerberg (http://www.boxopen.nu), British boxing publisher Leslie McCarthy (http://www.boxingaction.com) and Martin Campen, editor of UK boxing TALK (http://www.warriorboxing.com).
Please feel free to send news from your countries to [email protected] and they will become part of ENEWS.
Editorial crew:
Ognian Georgiev a.k.a. ogii3
Martin Campen a.k.a. Warrior (http://www.warriorboxing.com)
