I’m not going to reveal the winners in the Olympic boxing semis if some of you dear readers still want to watch the events tonight on MSNBC or Universal HD in sweet ignorance. What I will do is point you to my semifinal previews again (links) below and let you know that I got 16 bouts right and 6 wrong. Not to shabby! If you really want to know who won click here to go to the official Olympics site. Olympic Boxing Semi-final Predictions: First Session (Part One) Olympic Boxing Semi-final Predictions: First Session (Part Two) Olympic Boxing Semi-final Predictions: Second Session (Part One) Olympic Boxing Semi-final Predictions: Second Session (Part Two) [Read more]

Here are my Olympic Boxing Semi-Final predictions for the middleweight and heavyweights. These bouts will take place on Friday the 22nd at 3:00 a.m. EST (middle) and 3:30 a.m. (heavy). We’ll analyze how I did on Saturday. (Jabandgrapple picks in bold) Middleweight Semifinals Darren Sutherland (IRL) vs. James Degale (GBR) Sutherland likes to scrap and that makes him a jabandgrapple favorite. He throws punches, combination even! He boxes, he engages his opponent, he doesn’t dance and he works hard. These shouldn’t be unique qualities in a boxing tourney but these Olympic Games aren’t just any competition. In the quarters he beat the 2007 silver medalist Alfonso Blanco 11-1. The score wasn’t nearly that lopsided... [Read more]

Here are my Olympic Boxing Semi-Final predictions for the flyweight, featherweight and light welterweight. These bouts will take place on Friday the 22nd at 1:30 a.m. EST (fly), 2:00 a.m. EST (feather) and 2:30 a.m. (light welter). We’ll analyze how I did on Saturday. (Jabandgrapple picks in bold) Flyweight Semifinals Andry Laffita (CUB) vs. Georgy Balakshin (RUS) When Olympic boxing began most expected a lot of Cuba vs. Russia medal matchups. Then something strange happened: the vaunted Russians couldn’t get points from the judges while the Cubans got every benefit of the doubt. Laffita is a very experienced fighter who really enjoys running. Punching…not so much. Can Balakshin cut off the ring and corner the little dancer?... [Read more]

Here are my Olympic Boxing Semi-Final predictions for the welterweights, light heavyweights, and super heavyweights. These bouts will take place on Friday the 22nd at 8:30 a.m. EST (welter), 9:00 a.m. (light heavy) and 9:30 a.m. (super heavy). We’ll analyze how I did on Saturday. (Jabandgrapple picks in bold) *** Welterweight Semifinals Carlos Banteaux (CUB) vs. Hanati Silamu (CHN) Banteaux and Hanati are the top two ranked remaining competitors. I shudder to say fighters because the Chinese have done little fighting during this competition. This match could be 20-19 given the ease with which Cubans and Chinese have received points from the judges this tourney. I’m pulling for Banteaux because Hanati beat one of my favorites of... [Read more]

Here are my Olympic Boxing Semi-Final predictions for the light flyweights, bantamweights, and lightweights. These bouts will take place on Friday the 22nd at 7:00 a.m. EST (light fly), 7:30 a.m. (bantam) and 8:00 a.m. (light). We’ll analyze how I did on Saturday. Light Flyweight Semifinals Paddy Barnes (IRL) vs. Zou Shiming (CHN) Paddy Barnes has yet to face especially formidable competition. That changes against two-time world champion and home crowd favorite Zou Shiming. Zou’s awkward punch-and-grab style might be harsh on the eyes and he may have rightly lost his second round bout against Nordine Oubaali but there is zero chance he loses to Barnes. Purevdori Serdamba (MGL) vs. Yampier Hernandez (CUB) Yampier has been dominant... [Read more]