England impress in win over USA This content is protected ABA champion James DeGale was among England's winners England's amateur boxers notched up an impressive 9-2 victory over the USA at the York Hall in London's East End. The win came without lightweight world champion Frankie Gavin, who was forced to pull out of the match with flu and a broken tooth. The Birmingham fighter said: "It's disappointing to miss out, but I'm happy to be here supporting the team." GB already has four boxers on the plane to the 2008 Beijing Olympics after its best-ever World Championships display. Light-flyweight Paul Butler, 18, gave England a winning start with a comfortable 19-7 victory over Malcolm Franklin. Teenage flyweight Khalid Yafai then showed character after he was felled by a body shot to climb off the canvas and outpoint Qa'id Muhammad. England went 3-0 ahead when 18-year-old bantamweight Michael Maguire secured a second-round win over David Clark. But The Americans hit back to narrow the gap with two victories. Featherweight Rico Ramos scored a 7-5 victory over Thomas Stalker, and lightweight Miguel Gonzale took a 12-5 decision against 19-year-old Carl Place - called up at short notice to replace Gavin. Double ABA champion James DeGale clinched the 11-contest match after wins by light-welterweight Craig Dixon, 21, and Billy-Joe Saunders, the 18-year-old welterweight. Dixon out-pointed Daniel O'Connor 13-11, and Saunders beat Greg Carter in the third round on the 20-point rule - before DeGale, 21, outclassed Shawn Porter 23-4 in a rough-house middleweight bout. England's domination continued with light-heavyweight Obed Mbwakongo, 18, scoring a one-sided 20-2 victory over Siju Shabazz. Danny Price, the 22-year-old Scarborough heavyweight, dominated Quantas Graves 21-1. Local super-heavyweight Damian Campbell delighted his Bethnal Green fans by edging out American Michael Wilson to complete the rout. The pair were level 6-6 after the four rounds, but Campbell was awarded the verdict on a countback. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7122338.stm :think
It was not the top english team either. Unlike Russia the #USA seems to lack strength in deapth. I was not only impressed by the number of victories but just how one sided many of them were. The americans were slow predictable and very flat footed. I think this is a good omen for the future both in China and for when these lads turn pro. Well done!
i was suprised to hear that most of the american team were top 5 in their weight. and in some of the fights like the saunders and degale ones, it was the english boxer who fought more like american amateurs of the past.
I think Michael Wilson is the #1 superheavyweight in america so that wasa good win. The rest Ive never heard of
Michael Hunter is #1 in the US. The best members of the US team were probably Rico Ramos and Qaid Muhammad.
You don't say.... The whole game is different, its not just headgear. Why do you need to bring the pro game into it? It is not the be all and end all. Half these lads on both teams will never turn pro, not because of lack of skill, but because it does not appeal.
It is still a strong indicator of what will happen in the pros 5 years on. Talents won't suddenly appear from nowhere.
