The full roster of Beijing boxing Olympians was finalized with yesterday’s bronze medal matches at the Second Americas Qualifiers in Guatemala City. 258 total pugilists spanning 11 weight classes, 6 continents, and 75 countries.

Russia, the only country sending a full set of 11 boxers, sports the most fearsome and decorated side. At the 2007 World Boxing Championships they won three golds, three silvers, and two bronzes. These fighters will surely go to Beijing as medal favorites.

Four countries will be sending ten pugilists: China, Cuba, and Morocco, and Kazakhstan. The Chinese are not well represented in the professional stage but their current amateur success shows that a future boxing force could emerge. They are led by 26-year-old light flyweight Zou Shiming who won the bronze in Athens 2004 and the gold at last year’s worlds.

Perennial amateur power Cuba did not compete in the 2007 worlds, the first Olympic qualifying tourney, but still managed to send ten fighters to Beijing. The Moroccans are not highly touted, qualifying through the weaker African nations tourneys.

Kazakhstan, however, is poised for success. They look to make a splash in these Olympics just as they have dominated the Asian boxing scene since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Kazakhstan is not they only former Soviet state that boxes well. In fact, 53 of the 258 qualified Olympians come from what was once the U.S.S.R. That’s a little more than 20% of the competition!

If you were confused as to the recent pan-Soviet domination of the professional heavyweight titles now you know it was not a fluke.

As far as the English speaking world, the United States is sending nine boxers, Australia nine, Great Britain eight, Ireland five, Kenya five, Puerto Rico five, Nigeria four, and the U.S. Virgin Islands two. The Bahamas, the Gambia, Canada, South Africa, Uganda, and Samoa are all sending one.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Full Olympic Boxing Roster Finalized

Yesterday afternoon East Los Angeles middleweight Shawn Estrada became the ninth member of the American boxing team to qualify for the Olympic Games. He did it in determined fashion at the second American qualifiers in Guatemala City battling his Brazilian opponent Yamaguchi Florentine tooth and nail knowing that glory lay at the end of a positive four-round decision.

The match started tentatively with the two nervous fighters ably gaging each others strengths and weaknesses. By the end of the second the score was a sluggish 1-1. Then, with the flick of a switch the action picked up. The fighters traded blows and the third round ended with Estrada holding a precarious 7-6 lead.

When the final round began Estrada decided that he was going to the Olympics. His elusiveness amped, his accuracy honed, and his focus entered a zone. He outscored Florentine 5-1 in the championship round and jumped into sincere celebration. Print the ticket, start the plane, he’s going to China. Estrada will face Argentine Ezequiel Maderna for the tourney’s ceremonial gold medal.

Estrada’s super heavyweight teammate Michael Hunter II was not so fortunate. He lost his semifinal match 10-3 to Venezuelan Jose Payares. The 20-year-old Hunter was said to have been fighting illness during his stay in Guatemala City.

Hunter’s loss was especially heartbreaking since it marked his third loss in a match that would have sent him to the Olympic Games. In addition to yesterday’s match he dropped a 22-15 decision in the 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championships quarterfinals (top four went to Beijing) and a 9-1 final at the First Americas Qualifier (champion goes to Beijing). At the First Qualifier the super heavyweight class was the only division where only the champ made it; in all other weight classes both the first and second place finishers qualified.

We wish Michael the best and are sure he has a bright future ahead of him. It might not be too long before he mimics and the eclipses his father’s boxing successes – he fought Brian Nielsen for the IBC heavyweight title in 1996 – and fights AND WINS! a belt of his own.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Shawn Estrada Books Ticket to Beijing