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? We’re going to say so and hope the Slavic aggressor gets some points scored.

Vincenzo Picardi (ITA) vs. Somjit Jongjohor (THA)
This is a matchup of 2007 World Championship medalists. Picardi earned the bronze after dropping that semi match to Jongjohor 13-2. The eventual champion was American Rau’shee Warren. What happened to him? Don’t ask. Jongjohor hasn’t been that impressive so far in Beijing but we see no reason why history shouldn’t repeat itself. Expect the score to be about 7-1; the Thai boxer hasn’t been that active with his punching.

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Featherweight Semifinals

Yakup Kilic (TUR) vs. Vasyl Lomachenko (UKR)
Lomachenko, the 2007 World Championship silver medalist, has been extremely impressive at Beijing. He began the competition by beating the 2007 gold medalist and has skated ever since. How good has Vasyl been? In his quarterfinal matchup he beat a Chinese boxer 12-3 in spite of the judging favoritism. Lomachenko might be the surest bet for gold in the tourney.

Khedafi Djelkhir (FRA) vs. Shahin Imranov (AZE)
Neither of these two boxers excite me. Djelkhir beat American Raynell Williams by the skin of his teeth. I’m going with Imranov out of spite.

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Light Welterweight Semifinals

Manus Boonjumnong (THA) vs. Ronniel Iglesias (CUB)
In the quarters Boonjumnong beat the 2007 gold medalist, Iglesias beat the silver winner. That’s good enough for me. Manus is the pick.

Felix Manuel Diaz Guzman (DOM) vs. Alexis Vastine (FRA)
Vastine has had the tougher path taking out 2007 bronze winner Bradley Saunders while Guzman struggled with lightly regarded Irishman John Joe Joyce a/k/a Triple J.

Post from: EveryJoe

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

Featherweight (57kg / 125 lbs)
Sometimes winning an Olympic boxing medal has less to do with one’s talent and everything to do with the random draw. Beijing 2008’s featherweight competition is such an example. The 2007 World Championship gold and silver medalists, Russia’s Albert Selimov and the Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachenko, will face each other in the first round! Selimov defeated Lomachenko in Chicago 16-11. Only one of the two has a chance to bring home a medal this year.

2007’s two bronze medalists, Hungary’s Yakup Kilic and China’s Li Yang, are also situated in Selimov and Lomachenko’s half of the bracket as are two of 2007’s quarterfinalists, Thailand’s Sailom Adi and India’s Anthresh Lalit Lakra.

American Raynell Williams is fortunate to be on the bracket’s lower half giving him a fair shake at the medal stand. His primary competition will be fellow North Americans Arturo Santos Reyes who hails from Mexico and Cuban Idel Torriente

First Round
Monday, August 11
First Session 1:30 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. EST
Second Session 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. EST

Round of 16
Friday, August 15
First Session 1:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. EST
Second Session 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EST

Quarterfinals
Monday, August 18
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. EST

Semifinals
Friday, August 22
2:00 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. EST

Final
Saturday, August 23
7:30 a.m. EST

Post from: EveryJoe

Olympic Boxing Draw: Featherweights