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29/02/2008
Pescara - a full report from day 3
Remember for a full list of bouts, you can visit www.roseto2008.com
Wednesday 27th February 2008 (last 16)
Seven England boxers came to this tournament; seven were competing today to get into the semi finals, where a win books their place in the Beijing Olympics. Five box on Friday for Olympic births, the two lads who lost were and are desperately unlucky. The team are making a really big name for themselves and their country with their standout performances, they have much to be proud of.
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Afternoon Session 14:00
48kg Paul Butler lost to Ferhat Pehlivan (TUR) 12:15
19 year old Paul Butler performed with tactical nous against touted Pehlivan. After a slow 1st round, where it appeared the script would be followed, with Pehlivan just knowing too much for Paul, however, Butler changed tactics in the 2nd round, stepping up a gear to throw the Turk out his stride.
Pehlivan's comfort zone had disappeared, the Turk now had to resort to holding, not as a tactic, but because he had no other way to control the oncoming Butler, who was hurting the Turk with solid right hands.
R1 0:1, R2 3:4, R3 6:9 R4 12:15.
In the last round, eventually, two points were given to Butler for the persistent holding perpetrated by the Turk. Too little, too late by the ref from Butler and the England team's perspective.
Butler has been emerging as an international talent over the last 6 months. Pescara/Roseto has seen Butler become a genuine feature on the international radar.
The English boxer said: "Gutted. He held me non-stop."
Terry Edwards added: "It was a slow start, but when he got going the Turk cuddled him for two and a half rounds."
69kg Billy Joe Saunders bt Kakhaber Zhvania (GEO) 15:5
In this tournament the, by now, customary slow start was duly honoured by 18 year old Billy Joe Saunders. From 1:3 down in the first round, southpaw, BJ stepped into the second round and his second gear, which shifted him to a class above the very awkward, much experienced Kakhaber. From 7:3 at the end of the second Saunders coasted to clear water and just had too much of everything for the Georgian. BJ comfortably ran out a 15-5 winner.
R1 1:3, R2 7:3, R3 13:5, R4 15:5.
Speaking after his bout, Billy Joe said: "I am very honoured to be representing my country. I want to thank Lottery funding, GB coaches and my club coaches for getting me here. The job isn't done yet."
BJ will qualify for Beijing should he beat, Olexandr Stretskyy, (UKR), in the semi-final. Were he to lose he would still face the loser of the other semi-final for the third qualification spot.
Of the young boxer's performance, Terry Edwards said: "He started nervous, got into a rhythm and away he went. BJ has had three hard bouts against very experienced opposition. A tournament as big as this is a lot for an 18 year old to take on board, BJ has shown he has a mature mind as well as a well of talent."
David Price lost to David Arshba (AZE) 17:19
6ft 8inch David Price was less than fortunate to wind up on the wrong end of a 17/19 verdict. Big Pricey was involved in a torrid battle with hard man, Arshba. In the second round David came up with his trade mark pile driving right hand to drop the Azerbaijani for an eight count.
This struggle wound up being decided by the Israeli referee's lack of control of the contest. Whilst two big men were involved in a struggle of strength and will the referee stood by as a spectator allowing the Azerbaijani to hold throughout the fourth, final and what should have been the deciding round of the contest.
David Price summed up his disappointment, saying: "I don't know what to say, don't know what to do."
An appeal has been put in on Price's behalf with reference to the referee's handling of the contest, in particular the fact that the referee did not give a two point penalty to the Azerbaijani in the last round even though the ref had spent the entire round cautioning Arshba.
Evening Session 19:00
51kg Khalid Yafai bt Mohammed Nasir (WAL) rtd 2
Former Junior World Champion, 18 year old, "Kool" Kal Yafai entered the ring as the last GB boxer to commence action in this oh-so-important tournament. There was much pressure on this young man's shoulders. He had to box sparring partner, former team member, Mo Nassir, who had just come up in weight from light flyweight to flyweight. This was the battle of Britain and it was between two friends.
Nassir's noted float and pick style normally makes opponents look ordinary and forces them to sacrifice their technique, Kool Kal did not make these mistakes. 2/1 at the end of the 1st round became 8/2 by the end of the second with Kal not putting a foot or a punch wrong.
Mo Nassir did not come out for the third round as he was carrying an injured left ankle from yesterday's bout.
Khalid must win the next bout against Igor Samoilenco (MDA) to qualify for Beijing.
57kg Stephen Smith bt Michal Chudecki (POL) 23:7
22 year old Stephen "Swifty" Smith gave one of the great performances of this or any other Olympic qualifying event. Swifty had serious opposition in Poland's southpaw Michal Chudecki. This should have been a really tough job for the mercurial Smith. Boxing knows how talented young Smith is. He has boxing tricks possessed by few boxers. Swifty completely controlled and dominated the contest from start to finish affectively, having the bout won as early as mid way through the first round, finally winning 23/7.
R1 5/1, R2 11/5, R3 17/7, R4 23/7
Swifty said: "I really rate the Frenchman I box in the next round. He's top three in Europe no question, but I'll beat him, I will be gutted if I don't.
Since my Granddad died on 17th January I have become a different person, seems strange I feel really calm, almost as if my Granddad was there with me. He was a very smart man, now I wear his tie pin in my right boot when I box"
NB. Stephen's grandfather, Frank Smith, a publican in Liverpool, died on 17th January 2008.
Terry Edwards referred to Smith's performance as: "Class. Each one gets better. Swifty is back in the form he showed winning the Commonwealth Games and European Bronze, in fact he's better than that. Swifty is back and tip top."
Stephen will qualify for Beijing should he beat international stalwart Khedafi Djelkhir (FRA) in the semi-final. Were he to lose he would still face the loser of the other semi-final for the third qualification spot.
75Kg James "Chunky" DeGale bt Darren Sutherland (IRE) 23:22
Charismatic DeGale boxed old nemesis, Ireland's Darren Sutherland, two big middleweights with a big contest in the offing.
This was the fourth time these two have met. Sutherland won the first contest clearly, the second two were in The National Stadium Dublin and were both too close to call, Sutherland getting the nod on both occasions. In their last contest there had been more than a little testosterone in the air, tonight both men entered the ring on fire. You could sense something special was going to happen.
Sutherland got off to his normal lively start going three points up early in the first, Chunky came back to win the round 6/4. By the second, southpaw, DeGale, moved into cruise control and looked like he was going to completely outclass his old rival. Shots from both hands continued to score for the Englishman. By the third round Sutherland was just not able to get close to Chunky and was being hurt by the variety and power of southpaw, DeGale's punching.
At one stage, in the 3rd round, Chunky was 10 points ahead of Sutherland, then, all of a sudden, that little switch in DeGale's head flicked to off as he stood in front of his by now desperate opponent who took full advantage by throwing every power shot his muscles could remember. The Englishman's punches now lacked authority and were not scoring on the computer, the Irishman's big shots were then a huge round armed right hand caught DeGale on the point of the chin. The rock hard Englishman's knees buckled, he was in deep trouble. After the ensuing 8 count Sutherland fired powerful straight shots at Chunky, Chunky responded but wound up losing the round heavily so only had a one point lead going into the last. Had he recovered from the big right hand?
A classic final stanza was enacted in front of an enthralled crowd, no one was sitting down. Power and momentum were with the Irishman, determination, survival and his future drove the Englishman to stay in the contest.
At one stage Sutherland went two points ahead. The bout came back to even, Sutherland went two ahead, then, with a last gasp effort, Chunky turned everything round to deservedly win 23/22. These two will box again - buy a ticket now. There is no way their contest can be anything but exciting and enthralling.
Nice touch from the very sporting Irishman after Chunky got the decision, not only did he clap the result but he leant over and whispered to Chunky: "Ya good."
Chunky "I knew I would win, don't know how I managed to throw away 10 points. It was some fight, he's some fighter. He surprised me with how he has taken the decision especially since the last time we fought I thought there was bad blood between us, I was wrong. He'll get to Beijing"
With his nerves shredded, Terry Edwards said: "Dave Pocknell (assistant GB coach) had to give me the kiss of life in the third round, electric shock paddles in the fourth. Chunky was calm in the corner it was me that was getting excited.
N.B. A very special note must be made of how sporting Darren Sutherland and the entire Irish boxing team and support team were about this result, they made a point of coming in to the dressing room and congratulating Chunky and the England team. Sutherland has gone even further by contacting Chunky today (Thursday) wishing him the best to win this tournament and looking forward to boxing Chunky in Beijing. From his lips to God's ears.
R1 6/4, R2 15/7, R3 19/18, R4 23/22
Chunky will qualify for Beijing should he beat Istvan Szili (HUN) in the semi-final. Were he to lose he would still face the loser of the other semi-final for the third qualification spot.
91kg Daniel Price bt Ilias Pavlidis (GRE) 15:5
Danny was boxing one of the best of the best amateur heavyweights in the world. A guy who makes a habit of winning gold medals in prestigious tournaments, in fact he defeated reigning World Champion Russo, Italy, in the European Union Championships, in Dublin, immediately prior to the 2007 Chicago World Championships.
Daniel just didn't allow the Greek to get in the contest. It wasn't until the third round when Price had taken his foot off the gas that the Greek even managed to score a point. "Priceless" Danny ran out an easy 15/5 winner.
Danny must win the next bout against Aleksandr Usik (UKR) to qualify for Beijing. He said: "I'm getting better, that was almost a performance, a year ago I wouldn't have lived with this guy. The full time training and the coaching in Sheffield is making a huge difference."
A proud Edwards added: "He owed me that one. I'm very hard on Dan, but that's because I know there's a lot there and sometimes he just doesn't use what he's got."
R1 3/0, R2 8/0, R3 14/1, R4 15/5
Thursday 28th February - REST DAY
Friday 29th February - Semi Finals (14:00 local time, 13:00 GMT)
51kg Khalid Yafai v Igor Samoilenco (MDA)
57kg Stephen Smith v Khedafi Djelkhir (FRA)
69kg Billy Joe Saunders v Olexandr Stretskyy (UKR)
75kg James DeGale v Istvan Szili (HUN)
91kg Danny Price v Aleksandr Usik (UKR)