2008 Olympic Games page

Two world champions are knocked out of the 2008 Olympic Games boxing competition on the opening day of the quarterfinals in the Workers' Gymnasium on Sunday as 12 boxers from 10 countries guaranteed themselves an Olympic medal by reaching the semifinals.

Light welterweight (64kg) world champion Serik Sapiyev from Kazakhstan was beaten by defending Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong (THA) 7:5 while 69kg world champ Demetrius Andrade (USA) fell to the 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Jungjoo Kim (KOR) 11:9 leaving only three world champions (48kg - Zou Shiming (CHN), 91kg - Clemente Russo (ITA) and +91kg Roberto Cammarelle (ITA)) remaining in the competition.

Pic: Light welterweight (64kg) world champion Serik Sapiyev (KAZ), in red, lost to the 2004 Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong (THA)

The first contest was billed as the bout of the day and both boxers didn't disappoint, using their speed and precision to counter attack against each other in an intense battle for superiority. Boonjumnong made the better start, leading after two rounds at 3:1 before Sapiyev found his range and levelled the bout at 5:5 at the end of the third. Both boxers exchanged punch for punch in the fourth but it was only Boonjumnong who managed to successfully hit the target with sufficient force to advance to the semifinals and a match up with Cuba's Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo, who beat AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007 silver medallist Gennady Kovalev (RUS) 5:2.

"It was really tough," Boonjumnong said. "Sapiyev is aggressive, always moving forward to attack and I got tired in the third round. But during the break, my coach said: 'you have to push yourself because we have been waiting for this day.'"

Iglesias Sotolongo, meanwhile, was very happy with his strategy against the impressive Russian. "Our game plan was to attack, attack, attack and keep our defence solid. In the first round I couldn't reach him with my punches but in the third round I found my way."

Later in the session, France's Alexis Vastine pulled off an impressive 12:4 win in his 64kg quarterfinal against Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg, picking off points every time the Mongolian attacked.
"We were trying to punch at the same time but I was always quicker," he said. I wanted to make sure that every punch counted so I was economical with my punches. I always make sure that when I punch it will score."

Meanwhile, Felix Diaz guaranteed the Dominican Republic a boxing medal for the first time since 1984 (Pedres Nolasco won a 54kg bronze medal) after he beat Morteza Sepahvandi (IRI) 11:6.

Pic: Felix Diaz (DOM) takes on Morteza Sepahvandi (IRI)

"This means a lot because it's the first time in 24 years that the Dominican Republic has won a medal in boxing. Now I have the chance to make history and win gold."

The final bout of the session saw 91kg world champion Clemente Russo (ITA) successfully advance by beating Oleksandr Usyk (UKR) 7:4.

Twelve more quarterfinal bouts will be held on Monday starting at 19:00 with the 54kg, 57kg and +91kg division in action, starting with 2004 Athens 54kg silver medallist Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand against Cuba's Yankiel Leon Alarcon, the 2008 Pan American bronze medallist.

Semifinal stats to date:
Total boxers: 12
Total countries represented: 10 (Thailand, Cuba (III), Dominican Republic, France, China, Kazakhstan, Korea, Russia, USA and Italy)