Cubans stay masters in Olympic boxing semifinals
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-08-28 11:30

The Cubans remain the masters of the Olympic ring amid wishful predictions from their rivals of a decline.

With seven of their eight boxers made it through to the finals in Athens on Friday, Cuba stayed on court to top their four golds from the last two Games, as almost all remaining Cubans emerged as hottest favorites in their respective classes out of the total eleven categories.

Other finalists feature three Russians, two Thais, two Kazaks, two Belarussians and one boxer each from France, DPR Korea, Turkey, Britain, the United States and Egypt in the Athens Olympic Games boxing tournament.

World and triple European champion Sergey Kazakov of Russia has lost the chance to add an Olympic gold medal to his collection in the light flyweight (48kg) category, losing 26-20 to Atagun Yalcinkaya of Turkey.

The 18-year-old Turkish will take on Yan Bhartelemy Varela of Cuba in the final, who ruled out China's sole hope Zou Shiming with a convincing win of 29-17.

Zou, however, has made the history as he claimed China's first Olympic boxing medal with the bronze.

China's best ever Olympic result was a fifth place finish in the 91kg heavyweight category in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Britain's teenage hope Amir Khan proved himself a unique talent again, beating Serik Yeleuov of Kazakhstan 40-26 to set the lightweight final clash with mighty Cuban Mario Kindelan.

Andre Ward maintained pride for the United States' boxing team as he rallied into the light heavyweight (81kg) final against Magomed Aripgadjiev from Belarus, avoiding a record Olympic low for the US boxing team.

Twice world titlist Odlanier Solis Fonte sits on drive to run for his first Olympic gold medal in the heavyweight (91kg) final, while World Championships bronze medallist Viktar Zuyev of Belaruswill throw everything he has at the Cuban.

Fellow Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa Toledano will battle with 2001 world champion Jerome Thomas of France in Saturday's flyweight (51kg) final, while Yudel Johnson Cedeno will have his hands full against Manus Boonjumnong of Thailand in the final of the light welterweight (64kg) event.

World champion Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan is the favorite to defeat Russian Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov in the middleweight (75kg)final.

The feather weight (57kg) final sees the unknown Kim Song Guk of DPR Korea clash with the tough Russian Alexeii Tichtchenko.

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