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The Boxing Association of England continued its fairytale story at the 1st AIBA European Olympic Qualification Tournament in Roseto Degli Abruzzi, Italy after it registered its 11th straight victory on Tuesday.
After collecting five wins on the opening day Paul Butler (48kg) beat Alexandr Riscan (MDA) 20:12, Stephen Smith (57kg) beat David Oliver Joyce (IRE) 27:19, 69kg Billy Joe Saunders continued his extraordinary career having yet to lose a bout by beating Michal Starbala (POL) 13:12, James de Gale (75k)g beat Abella Guzman Castillo (ESP) RSCOS, Daniel Price (91kg) beat Tervel Pulev (BUL) 12:8 and +91kg David Price (no relation) beat Krzysztof Glowacki (POL) KO R2.
England, who has already qualified Joseph Murray (54kg), Frankie Gavin (60kg), Bradley Saunders (64kg) and Tony Jefferies (81kg) at the AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007, leads the team rankings by two points (one point for each victory) - and has by far the superior points per boxer ratio of 1.6 - followed by Belarus, Germany, Hungary and the Ukraine who have all registered nine wins but suffered at least one defeat in the process.
With Olympic Games qualification beckoning in Friday's semifinals, Wednesday's quarterfinals are another key stepping stone in the dreams of Olympic qualification.
A total of 232 athletes from 42 countries started the tournament chasing 26 vacancies which are on offer in this, the first of two European Olympic qualification tournaments. The 2nd AIBA European Olympic Qualification Tournament will take place in Greece from April 7-14.
Forty European boxers have already claimed tickets for Beijing at the first Olympic qualifier - the AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007 - so the remaining total of Europe's quota of 51 has been split between its two continental qualification events with 25 vacancies on offer in Greece.
Wednesday will see quarterfinal action start at 14:00 (local time) before a rest day and the semifinals on Friday and Saturday's finals. |