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 and it was a great match to watch and Sutherland (as well as Blanco) might have a successful pro career in his future.

And Degale? Well, he beat the Athens 2004 boxer of the tourney Bakhtiyar Artayev in the semis 8-3. How the awkward, gawky Kazakh could ever have been voted most outstanding is beyond us. Evidently aesthetics weren’t involved in the decision. The southpaw Degale seemed to have confused Artayev with his frequent backtracking and lunging left-hand jabs.

Degale described his style to announcer Jim Gray as hit-move-hit-move-hit-move. Gray responded by complementing his dancing. Sutherland’s style is more hit-hit-hit-hit. For the love of boxing let’s hope the Irishman wins.

Emilio Correa (CUB) vs. Vijender Kumar (IND)
Correa is yet another skilled Cuban boxer. In the first round of Emilio’s quarterfinal matchup he circled the ring looking for spots and openings. But in the second he switched to aggressor and successfully hunted down his opponent. Correa’s dad, Emilio Sr., won the Olympic welterweight gold in 1972 and we think his son is going to repeat his father’s accomplishment, or at least make the finals.

3:00 a.m. – 3:30 a.m. EST

***
Heavyweight Semifinals

Osmay Acosta (CUB) vs. Rakhim Chakhkeiv (RUS)
Haven’t been impressed with either of these two heavyweights. Will go with Acosta not because the Cubans have been getting some friendly judging while the Russians have been getting the shaft. I like Chakhkeiv a lot better. Goes to show how horrible Olympic boxing has become.

Deontay Wilder (USA) vs. Clemente Russo (ITA)
I like Wilder and think the raw prospect might be a good pro but the stylized, experienced awkwardness of Russo is too much for the Tuscaloosa tornado.

Post from: EveryJoe

Olympic Boxing Semi-final Predictions: First Session (Part Two)

Heavyweight (91kg / 200 lbs)
When American Deontay Wilder saw the heavyweight Olympic draw he must have smiled. Wilder need only beat lightly regarded Algerian Abdelaziz Toulbini and the winner between Australia’s Brad Pitt and Morocco’s Mohamed Arjaoui to be assured of an Olympic medal. None of these three fighters won a bout at the 2007 World Championships.

Wilder, however, didn’t make it out of the 2007 first round either. Nevertheless he has to be excited about his prospects. Should he make it to the semis he would face the winner of the probable match between Worlds gold medalist Italian Clemente Russo and bronze medalist Yushan Nijiati from China.

The favorites from the other side of the bracket is Pan Am games champ Osmay Acosta from Cuba and Worlds silver medalist Rakhim Chakhkeiv of Russia.

Round of 16
Wednesday, August 13
3:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. EST

Quarterfinals
Saturday, August 17
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EST

Semifinals
Friday, August 22
3:30 a.m. – 4:00 a.m. EST

Heavyweight Final
Saturday, August 23
9:30 a.m. EST

Post from: EveryJoe

Olympic Boxing Draw: Heavyweights