TEAM GB & EIRE BOXING GOES FOR GOLD AT 2012 OLYMPICS
By: Peter Mann; Head UK & Eire Boxing Editor
Olympic Boxing is to be taken to another level this summer as the home countries of Team GB and Team Ireland look to add medals to an already impressive haul accumulated over the years. Overall the British Isles has accumulated some 50 plus medals, including 14 gold medals since 1908. Now stronger than ever before, this time around will also see the inclusion of four female boxers (three on Team GB and one for Ireland) in the two respective squads.
There is also the small matter of, in relation to Team GB anyway, a twelve man backroom staff supporting the Olympians as, not just coaches they also have a nutritionist, physiotherapist and performance analyst, amongst others. The full staff for Team GB is that of – Performance Director Robert McCracken; Coaches Paul Walmsley, Dave Alloway, Lee Pullen, Nigel Davies, Bob Dillon and Richie Woodhall (himself a Bronze medallist at the 1988 Games); Strength and Conditioning Coach Ian Pyper; Physiotherapist Ian Gatt; Doctor Mike Loosermore, Nutritionist Mark Ellison; and Performance Analysis Expert Rob Gibson.
Looking at that specific quartet of female competitors then the best hope would lie surely in the gloves of Hartlepool’s Savannah Marshall. The 21 year old middleweight only recently earned her place at London 2012 courtesy of successfully winning the World Championships in China. ‘The Silent Assassin’ went into the event with all hopes pinning on her success and she told the local press prior to the Championships that
“If I got to the Olympics I would be pleased. But I really think that I have to aim higher than that and not just get there, but win a medal.
“I know I can do it. That is what I am focused on. Obviously I have to get past the first stage and that is to qualify, but I really feel with the way I have been boxing that I should be up there with a medal chance”
At the World Championships, in Qinhuangdao, China, Marshall required, at worst, a semi-final spot, in order to secure her place at the 2012 Olympics or be one of the four Europeans in the quarter-finals. However, she pulled out the performance of her life, and on her 21st birthday, when she defeated that of Elena Vystropova, 17-15 in the final. The victory made Marshall Britain’s first female boxing world champion and added that Gold success to the Silver she collected 2010 Worlds, Silver at the 2009 Europeans, and a gold from 2008 European Juniors.
Joining Marshall will be Nicola Adams (the eldest of the Team GB Boxing at 29) who claimed the Flyweight spot when she claimed Silver at the Worlds, losing to Ren Cancan 14-10 in the final; and at Lightweight that of 27 year old Nicola Adams, who lost her semi-final bout but still qualified.
Representing Ireland there is that of Katie Taylor, who has shown total domination in her weight division for the past six years claiming some 13 titles, including four World titles. Along with Marshall, Taylor is another expected to bring home a medal from the Games.
The male contingent representing the Home Nations at the Olympics sees the giant Anthony Joshua tipping the scales in the Super Heavyweight division when, at 6 foot 6 inches and some 18 stone, took the hard route to London. Having been overlooked for 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Joshua was fortunate to be chosen for this year’s World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. The proverbial last chance saloon would Joshua pull off an upset in defeating the double world and reigning Olympic champion, Roberto Cammarello before suffering a slender, one point defeat to claim the Silver in the final against the home favourite, Magomed Medzhidov.
Other qualifiers for Team GB sees the younger brother of Featherweight Champion Lee Selby, 23 year old Andrew, come in as a Flyweight after also being unlucky to lose in the Worlds final, again by a point, when he lost to the Russian Misha Aloyan. His route to the Games was somewhat an unorthodox one though having to go through a series of qualifying matches including a series with compatriot Khalid Yafai, having defeated him at the GB Championships.
Merseysider Tom Stalker, subject of a recent television documentary, qualified in the light-welterweight division after having moved up a weight last year. Stalker, at 28, is the eldest male competitor, was a success as a lightweight having collected gold and silver medals at European championships as well as a Commonwealth Games gold medal before electing to move up a division.
Stalker qualified for the Olympics when winning a bronze medal at the Worlds. Stalker was beaten eventual Silver medallist, the Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk in the semi-final.
Also included in the Team GB squad is that of Luke Campbell (24), Josh Taylor (21), Fred Evans (21) and Anthony Ogogo (23). Campbell is a strong favourite at Bantamweight having won the ABA championships and Gold at the Europeans in 2008; Evans, the Welshman in the GB Boxing squad, qualifies at Welterweight, qualified having reached the recommended quarters at the recent Worlds; and finally Taylor (Lightweight) and Ogogo (Middleweight) both qualified through successfully navigation of the Europeans.
The Irish contingent is also a strong one with five male fighters making the journey over the Irish Sea with former Olympic Bronze medallist (2008) Paddy Barnes looking to add another medal to those achieved at European, Commonwealth and his previous Olympic outing. Joe Nevan qualified having claimed Bronze at the Worlds losing to England’s Luke Campbell (Bantamweight) on a count-back when the scores were tied at twelve in the semis.
Other qualifiers in the Irish camp are Michael Conlon (Flyweight), Darren O’Neil (Middleweight) and Adam Nolan (Welterweight).
The draw for the Olympic Boxing event (First Round only), which begins on Saturday 28th was to be as follows –
Anthony Joshua vs. Erislandy Savon (CUBA)
Anthony Ogogo vs. Junior Catillo (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
Natasha Jonas vs. Queen Underwood (USA)
Joe Nevan vs. Dennis Villy Ceylan (DENMARK)
Adam Nolan vs. Carlos Daniel Sanchez Estacio (ECUADOR)
Darren O’Neil vs. Muideen Olakekan Akanji (NIGERIA)
The remaining UK & Eire competitors have received byes into the Second Round of the competition with Ireland’s Katie Taylor receiving a tough draw as she will face the victor of the First Round super-bout between Team GB’s Natasha Jonas and the American Queen Underwood.
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