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 in Beijing winning his last to bouts 21-6 and 21-3. That’s right, the judges actually gave someone 20 points in this tourney. Unbelievable. Mongolia’s Purevdori Serdamba unfairly squeaked by American Luis Yanez and his style is more suited to wrestling. If the boxing gods are in Beijing (and it’s doubtful that they are) then Hernandez wins big again.

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Bantamweight Semifinals

Yankiel Leon (CUB) vs. Bruno Julie (MRI)
Julie might be the only African boxing medalist. Odds are it’s going to be a bronze. Leon has been a lot tidier in his matches and should dominate the Indian Ocean islander. The gold is Leon’s to lose.

Veaceslav Gojan (MDA) vs. Enkhbat Badar-Uugan (MGL)
Moldova vs. Mongolia. Only in Olympic boxing. Gojan won his first round match 1-1. One to One! How much holding do you think happened in that match. I can’t abide by that. Go Badar-Uugan.

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Lightweight Semifinals

Hrachik Javakhyan (ARM) vs. Alexey Tishchenko (RUS)
Javakhyan has yet to have a point scored against him. How’s that possible? First round bye. Second round 12-0 against the very inexperienced Nigerian Rasheed Lawal. Third round walkover. His astounding streak will end against Tishchenko who has been one of the more attractive (conventional) boxers in this stinker of an Olympic tournament. Alexey fights as if he is in a boxing match. Mercy me!

Yordenis Ugas (CUB) vs. Daouda Sow (FRA)
Both Ugas and Sow faced tough competition in the quarters and both emerged with close wins. Ugas is a smooth, confident fighter, Sow is an octopus-like grabber. Let’s hope Ugas can outsmart Sow’s awkwardness. If Ugas wins boxing fans will be the victor.

Quick thoughts on the Light Flyweight Olympic boxing draw.
Official Link to the Light Flyweight Draw

Light Flyweight (-48kg / sub-105 lbs)
This is one of more evenly distributed draws of the tourney. American Luis Yanez is on the opposite side of the bracket from the home town favorite and defending world champ and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Zou Shiming and wouldn’t have to face the world #2 Filipino Harry Tanamor until the semis (Yanez lost to Tanamour in the quarters of the 2007 Worlds) but does have a tough first round bout against Spaniard Kelvin de la Nieve.

Ireland’s Paddy Barnes, who lost to Zou in the 2007 quarters) received a terrific draw. He was gifted with the randomly assigned first round bye and should sail into the quarters in not the semis where he could meet Zou again.

(NOTE All Times are Eastern U.S. time)
First Round:
Wednesday, August 13
First Session 1:30 a.m. - 3:00 a.m. EST
Second Session 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. EST

Round of 16:
Saturday, August 16
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. EST

Quarterfinals
Tuesday, August 19
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. EST

Semifinals
Friday, August 22
7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. EST

Finals
Sunday, August 24
1:30 a.m. EST