Day Six Saturday 1st March 2008 (Olympic qualifying box-offs)

The day started with potentially the joy of two more qualifications or the heartbreak of a long week where GB boxers were the stars of the canvass, winning 19 bouts (thus far), and maybe not getting full reward for GB’s outstanding showing. Limbo or heaven. Sweet or slightly sour…

Full story at Amateur Boxing Forum

The tournament is now at the business end of the week. Five of the team were boxing for qualification spots today. Notting Hill’s James DeGale and Birmingham’s Khalid Yafai realised their Olympic dreams with sound performances. Billy Joe Saunders and Stephen Smith must win on Saturday to qualify having lost and been tactically withdrawn respectively today. Danny Price came off second best and must now refocus on the final qualifier in Athens (6-13th April) if he is to join his six team mates in Beijing. Hopefully that six will become eight on Saturday. This team is still riding high and raising the bar with each tournament.
 

Read the full report at Amateur Boxing Forum

Seven England boxers came to this tournament; seven were competing today to get into the semi finals, where a win books their place in the Beijing Olympics. Five box on Friday for Olympic births, the two lads who lost were and are desperately unlucky. The team are making a really big name for themselves and their country with their standout performances, they have much to be proud of.

Read full report at the Amateur Boxing Furum

Team GB got phase two of their Olympic qualification campaign off to a flying start with 5 of 6 UK Sport lottery funded boxers (Stephen Smith, Billy Joe Saunders, James DeGale, David Price and Danny Price) progressing to the last 16 where they join Paul Butler (just 12 entered at his weight). Khalid Yafai was fortunate to get a bye into the last 8 and boxes first on Wednesday. All boxers must progress to the final of this tournament to guarantee Olympic qualification. In weight categories 54, 57, 69 and 75 the winners of the 3rd/4th place box-off also qualify.  

Read full report at Amateur Boxing Forum