Saturday, November 20, 2010

Commonwealth Games 2010: Boxing form guide

Sean McGoldrick Home nations dominate boxing semis

Fifteen boxers from the home nations feature in Wednesday's Commonwealth Games finals. BBC Sport runs down the men to watch in each bout.

Light-flyweight (46-49kg)1030 BST - After three fights in this competition, Northern Ireland's European champion Paddy Barnes has put behind him some unwelcome distractions away from the ring earlier in the week and feels he is at his best as he faces Namibian Jafet Uutoni.

The 23-year-old, who won Olympic bronze in 2008, proved his form by holding India's Amandeep Singh point-less in front of a hostile crowd in the semi-finals.

Bantamweight (56kg) 1045 BST - England's Iain Weaver was the pre-event favourite but was outraged at his points defeat by India's 2006 gold medallist Akhil Kumar.

Welsh 18-year-old Sean McGoldrick boxed superbly to out-point the man who beat Kumar, Olympic bronze medallist Louis Julie of Mauritius in the semi-final.

But his Sri Lankan opponent Manju Wanniarachchi has been impressive so far with his dynamic hard-punching style.

Lightweight (60kg) 1100 BST - England's Tom Stalker won silver at the 2008 European Championships and has a depth of experience.

But 19-year-old Josh Taylor of Scotland is a precocious talent - like McGoldrick - and has put in a series of impressive displays. He has the confidence of youth, and will not be daunted by the magnitude of the event.

Welterweight (69kg) 1115 BST - Englishman Callum Smith, has already emulated his brothers, Paul and Stephen, by guaranteeing at least a Commonwealth Games silver medal.

Standing between him and gold is 19-year-old Patrick Gallagher of Northern Ireland, a compact fighter in contrast to the tall, rangy Smith. Their contrasting styles could make for an intriguing contest.

Light heavyweight (81kg) 1130 BST - Scotland team captain Callum Johnson, who comes from Lincoln but qualifies through a Scottish grandmother, has boxed very well to get to the final.

The pick of his victories was probably in the quarter-final against England's Obed Mbwakongo, when he proved to be the fresher and better on the day after Mbwakongo's hard-fought win over Indian favourite Dinesh Kumar.

His rival, Thomas McCarthy of Northern Ireland, is a talented teenager who has displayed a wide range of skills so far in the tournament.

Light welterweight (64kg) 1445 BST - England's Bradley Saunders, won world championship bronze in 2007 but has endured a difficult time since, as he was eliminated in the second round at the Olympics then missed the 2009 Worlds with a hand injury.

He has learnt from the disappointment of Beijing, though, and has brought that experience to bear, controlling matches superbly to get this far.

India's fans will provide a hostile environment as he takes on their man Manoj Kumar.

Anthony Ogogo Ogogo leads home nations charge

Middleweight (75kg) 1500 BST -

Anthony Ogogo of England beat the world number one Vijender Singh in bizarre circumstances in the semi-finals, as all of his points were awarded as a result of infractions by the Indian.

He will now be looking to ally the determination he showed in that contest with the superb boxing he showed earlier in the tournament to defeat Northern Ireland captain Eamonn O'Kane, a bronze medallist at the 2008 European Championships in Liverpool, who is boxing in his second Commonwealth Games.

Heavyweight (91kg) 1515 BST - The heavyweight category is often something of a lottery, because one punch can change everything, butSimon Vallily of England is on course to repeat his win in the test event in Delhi earlier this year.

However, Northern Ireland'sSteven Ward, 20, deserves his spot in the final after pulling out a dramatic win over home fighter Manpreet Singh in the closing seconds of their quarter-final, before beating Scotland's Stephen Simmons in the semis.


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