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31/10/2007

Day Eight at the XIV AIBA World Championships

54kg Bantamweight Joe Murray (ENG) beat Bruno Julie (MRI) 26:19

England Boxer, Joe Murray, Moss Side ABC, Manchester, qualifies for 2008 Beijing Olympics

54 kg, 20 year old, Bantamweight, Joe Murray, boxed his way to the 2008 Beijing Olympics games with a near flawless 4 rounds of fast paced action, to decisively defeat, experienced, Mauritian, southpaw, Louis Richard Bruno Julie. Thus Joe Murray has qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games, at the first time of asking, here in Chicago, on amateur boxing's second biggest stage, the XIV AIBA World Championships.

Murray will be only the 4th ever England boxer to win a medal in the history of the World Championships if he defeats southpaw, Yu Gu (China), on Thursday evening, 1st November.

As per the pre bout plan, Moss Side's Murray took the contest to Julie from the first bell surprising Julie and racking up an early 4 point lead, which forced the Mauritian to take the offensive. This Julie did with gusto, in turn forcing Murray to skirt the ring and pick punches from either side of Julie's lead.

A round 1 lead of 6:3 became 13:9 by the end of the 2nd round. Joe and his corner realized that it was a virtual impossibility to defeat the strong Julie with counter punches alone, so Joe adopted the policy of retreating, but stepping in to continually beat Julie to the punch. This tactic Julie had no answer to. Murray cruised to victory with scores of 19:13 at the end of the 3rd round and 26:19 by the end of the contest.

Joe Murray "Two Mancs qualified in two Olympics" referring to his former room-mate, Athens Olympic Silver medal winner, Amir Khan

"Dream come true, anyone's dream can come true" "Over the Moon"

"I want to medal here" "I've improved so much in the last year, thanks to GB trainers Terry (Edwards), Nigel (Davies), Dave (Pocknell), Joe (Gallagher, his club coach) "I want to thank Terry for selecting me and standing by me after I lost in the ABAs"

Terry Edwards, GB Head Coach. "Joe has been quietly confident throughout this trip and has boxed with thought and guile. He listens in the corner and is able to change tactics as when we ask him to. He is a pleasure to work with and has had a medal on his mind for the past month"

64kg Bradley Saunders (ENG) bt Javier Molina (USA) 24:12

Bradley Saunders (ENG) V Javier Molina (USA)

This evening in Chicago, 64 kg, 20 yr old, South Durham light welterweight, Bradley Saunders defeated the USA's Javier Molina 24:12 and in doing so has qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Along with bantamweight, Joe Murray, Saunders is England's 2nd boxer to qualify in a matter of hours.

"Buzzing" Brad did not let a raucous USA crowd distract him from the task he had in front of him, from the off Saunders was after the American like a dog after a rat. Saunders never let the American settle into a rhythm. Brad took the lead and stayed in front by initially haring Molina around the ring, hitting his foe with hard, straight punches, often landing a solid right hand lead from an orthodox stance.

After leading at the end of the 1st round 3:2 Saunders began to use a powerful left hook to the body which Molina had no answer to. Saunders' 6:4 lead at the end of the second became 17:9 at the end of the third. Bradley bullied, bossed, and outgunned an American who thought he was going to be too fast and too clever for the Brit. 24:12 the final score was a fair reflection of the control Saunders had from start to finish.

Saunders' fourth contest in this competition will be on Thursday afternoon, 1st November, against Alexis Vastine, a tall 21 year old Frenchman who matches the Durham Dynamo for aggression, spirit and strength. A bout everyone is looking forward to, it's going to be very hard for both boxers.

Bradley Saunders "Second best day of my life" first being the birth of his son fourteen months ago.

"First goal was to qualify, next is to recieve a medal"

"Massive thanks to Terry Edwards for pushing me to this success"

Terry Edwards GB Head Coach "I love him, he's a tough, fast-handed, difficult opponent for anyone to box and he's improving all the time."

91kg Stephen Simmons (SCO) lost to Milorad Gajovic (MNE) RSCI 4

Braveheart Steve Simmons (Leith Vic AAC, Edinburgh, Scotland), fought with determination, passion, and courage against rough tough power punching Montenegran Milorad Gajovic. Simmons moved and picked punches to establish a lead at the end of the first 3:2 and more of the same in the second had the Scot 8:6 up at the end of the second. But, the powerhouse that is Gajovic was ever-threatening and always dangerous, with Simmons approaching a winning lead at the end of the third round a massive right hand buckled the Scot's knees leaving him stranded on the middle rope. A standing eight count and Steve's bravery enabled him to finish the round 16:11 in the lead. Lesser men would not have been able to carry on from the shot Steve had shipped in the third.

Our Hero came out with his normal purpose and determination despite the fact he was still effected by the wallop he took in the third round. Steve managed to stay in the lead but again got caught after a minute and twenty seconds of the last round. Again the Scot was not subdued. It looked as though his courage and determination was going to be rewarded with a win. However, two more big shots from Gajovic and another standing eight count left the referee with little choice but to stop the contest. There were only 14 seconds left on the clock!

Steve Simmons "Gutted"

Terry Edwards "Heartbreak. Really feel for the kid. Not a lot you can say. Fourteen seconds from the last 8. I guess that's boxing."

Tuesday 30th October

54kg Joe Murray (ENG) beat Bruno Julie (MRI) 26:19

64kg Bradley Saunders (ENG) beat Javier Molina (USA) 24:12

91kg Stephen Simmons (SCO) lost to Milorad Gajovic (MNE) RSCI 4

Wednesday 31st October

60kg Frankie Gavin (ENG) v Ramal Amanov (AZE)

81kg Tony Jeffries (ENG) v Ramazan Magomedov (BLR)

+91kg David Price (ENG) v Primislav Dimovski (MKD)

Thursday 1st November

54kg Joe Murray (ENG) v Yu Gu (CHN)