With the Olympics around the corner I thought I’d share this link

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics[/url]

With every Olympics, boxing fans hope for the next Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, or Muhammad Ali. Mega stars who capture the sporting world’s interest above and beyond the sport of boxing itself. Is such a fighter out there in the 2008 class?

 

There are a few guys you want to watch.

This link will show you who the fighters are:

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics_-_Qualification[/url]

 

The British fighter to watch is Billy Joe Saunders.

The broad shoulders of 18-year-old British welterweight boxer Billy Joe Saunders have more than the usual burden of pride and expectation riding on them. For a start there's the large fan base he's gathered in a 49-fight winning streak that included the defeat of a Cuban champion. Then there's the reputation of his family and of his Romany Gypsy people for whom he's aiming to be a "good news story." Part of that involves shucking the image of the bare-knuckle fighter, a tradition of Gypsy culture that made his 96-year-old great-grandfather a celebrated boxing booth champion at the fairgrounds. But above all Saunders puts his faith in another time-honored virtue of the gloved version of the sport: "Boxing has kept me off the streets, stops me smoking and drinking and gives me something to do." Like beating people up.

 

Here are some of fighters I like. I have seen them all except Saunders. The order here is by weight class only.

1 ) Shiming. Jr Flyweight from China. China’s little guy is tall, thin, and very quick. Nearly impossible to out point at this weight class. He should win gold, and perhaps usher in a new era of professional boxing in China.

2 ) Warren. Flyweight from the USA. USA’s best hope to win gold. Warren is good, flashy and confident. It has been a long time since USA had a very talented lower weight fighter in the Olympics. Warren is it.

3 ) Saunders. Welterweight from Great Brittan. . Billy Joe background is ultra cool. His grandfather was a bare knuckle brawler. If he can medal, the Brits will love him.

4 ) Korobov. Middle weight from Russia. Korbov is an outstanding talent at middle weight. Perhaps the best pound for pound fighter in the Olympics. Watch him. If he goes pro, I think he has real chance to be an excellent champion.

5 ) Beterbiyev. Light heavyweight from Russia. Beterbiyev is an aggressive and skilled puncher who can counter or flurry. He came in 1st in the Euro amateur championships and 2nd in the world amateurs. Perhaps the most exciting guy to watch.

6 ) Chakhkeiv. Heavyweight from Russia. Chakhkeiv isn’t skilled. He is a competent boxer. But the thing about him is he is a great puncher, and flat out fights angry.

7 ) Timurizev. Super heavyweight. From Russia. Perhaps the best pure puncher in the games. Timurziev can hit a ton, and is suprisingly technical on offense or defense. The big question is can he stay healthy? Illness and injury have given him more trouble than his opponents have.

 

The super heavies are interesting this year. There might not be a supper star, but the depth is outstanding, and there is a good mix of sizes and styles to watch. Pro boxing needs at least three of these guys to turn professional.

In my opinion, here are the top six talents. With the right draw all of these guys can medal. My order of the best six.

1 ) Cammarelle can fight. The size, skills, speed, and power are there. Not a gritty fighter, Cammarelle is too fast for the big guys, and too strong for the small guys. He has perhaps the best offensive skill of the lot. A bit like a prime Golota who fought Bowe, except Cammarelle has a real hook. I just hope he goes pro if he wins silver or gold.

2 ) Timuziev if healthy might be the best. He hits hard to the head or body. Good chin. Can win on points because his jab and defense are good too. Long term stamina is his weakness. Is he healthy? If he is, he’s my #1.

3 ) Pulev is a quick boxer and spoiler type of amateur boxer. He can upset anyone. Chalk him up as a puncher’s worst nightmare, and pitter- pat master of amateur scoring.

4) Glazkov is a big puncher who might be coming into his own. Good size, good power. Average speed might cost him.

5 ) Alfanso is a fighter I have not seen, but choose to list anyway. Usually the super heavy from Cuba is a real talent, but Alfanso is not held in high regard as other Cuban heavies or super heavies of the past. Alfanso beat USA’s Hunter to qualify. Hunter is decent, so Alfanso must be pretty good.

6 ) Zheili is a Chinese version of Valuev. Well he’s not that big. Zheili is about 6’8 with a huge frame. He is a bit slow handed though, and won't win a points match vs the top 5 unless the run from him.

 

Price needs a good draw to get out of round one. I say he is maybe the 8th-12th best guy here out of 16. What makes you think Price is that good. Unless he has improved a lot in the past six months, I just cannot see him doing any better than bronze ( Boxing gives out two of them ) with a favorible draw.