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The atmosphere in Roseto Degli Abruzzi, Italy on the eve of the semifinals of the 1st AIBA European Olympic Qualification Tournament is intense with 44 boxers from 19 countries having an early night in preparation for Olympic qualification bouts on Friday.

A win in the semifinals will guarantee an Olympic place, defeat and it is all over for the Light Flyweight, Flyweight, Lightweight, Light Welterweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight and Super Heavyweight boxers. The Bantamweight, Featherweight, Welterweight and Middleweight classes have an extra spot on offer necessitating a bout for the bronze medal in Saturday's finals.

The Ukraine and England have five representatives in the semifinals followed by Belarus and Hungary with three apiece.

A total of 232 athletes from 42 countries started the tournament 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 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.

Friday's semifinals start at 14.00. The first bout sees Poland's Lukasz Maszczyk take on Anton Bekish from Belarus in the 48kg class.