Version Français

With 28 of the 29 Olympic vacancies already filled at the 1st AIBA African Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Algiers, Algeria, Thursday's +91kg gold medal bout between Newfel Ouatah (ALG) and Mohamed Amanissi (MAR) will fill the remaining spot on offer.

With the Olympic tickets already confirmed in the 48kg to 75kg divisions (top three spots) and in the 81kg and 91kg classes (top two), Thursday's gold medal bouts have only tournament honours at stake.

However, there are some fascinating contests scheduled for the session starting at 21:00 (local time). With eight countries represented in the finals, two-time Olympian Suleomane Bilali (KEN) will kick things off when he takes on Jafet Uutoni (NAM) in the 48kg final, followed by another two-time Olympian Mesbahi Hicham (MAR), who will face Abdelhalim Ourradi (ALG) in the 54kg division.

Junior world champion in 2006 Mahdi Ouatine (MAR) will contest the 57kg final against Abdelkader Chadi(ALG), 2006 Junior World Championships bronze medallist Hamza Kramou (ALG) comes up against Saifeddine Nejmaoui (TUN) in the 60kg final while in the 75kg final, two-time Olympian (including a ¼ final finish in Sydney) M. Ab. Mawgo A. El. Hikal (EGY) takes on Hamed Saraku (GHA).

Meanwhile, the 1st AIBA Asia Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand currently has a rest day but is looking forward to Friday's semifinals where 18 Olympic vacancies are on the line. All but the 91kg (where the gold medallist qualifies for Beijing) and +91kg divisions (no vacancies on offer in Bangkok) offer two Olympic qualification spots.

With a lot riding on the semifinals, Friday's bout of the day is definitely going to be the showdown between Thai ace Worapoj Petchkoom, a silver medallist at the Athens Olympics, and Joan Tipon (PHI) in the 54kg semi. It will be the third time in three years the two have met with Tipon having pipped Petchkoom in a thrilling semifinal tiebreak encounter at the 2006 Asian Games, while Petchkoom claimed the honours in the opening round of the AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007, winning 13-5. Tipon, who is the only Philippines boxer left in the draw, will be calling on all his reserves and the support of as many expats to drown out the feverous support of the Thais and finish, what he hopes, will be the Philippines' only Olympic qualifier from this tournament.