Brit ace Saunders can shine - FightGame Boxing & MMA Forums News & Discussion

**the_godslayer** · 08-08-2008, 10:37 AM

The greatest show on earth is upon us and in the boxing there has been controversy even before a punch has been thrown in anger.

Frankie Gavin, who was arguably Great Britain's best chance of a gold medal in the Games, is on his way back to Blighty after failing to make the lightweight limit.

Gavin, the two-time ABA and reigning Commonwealth and World champion, simply couldn't boil his 22-year-old frame down to lightweight and as a consequence he will now spend the next fortnight in his native Birmingham rather than Beijing.

It's a bitter blow for Team GB, but all is not lost. We still have seven fighters gunning for glory and it's my view that at least two of these can medal.

Sedgefield switch-hitter Bradley Saunders boxes at light-welterweight and at big odds I reckon he is being seriously overlooked by the bookmakers.

Saunders claimed bronze at the world championships in Chicago last year and won gold in the prestigious Presidents Cup in Taiwan recently.

In that tournament he beat Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong (favourite for gold at light-welter) and that win proves he belongs in elite class.

Serik Sapiyev, the reigning world champion, has been chalked up as the event jolly but Saunders, who pushed Amir Khan close while still a teenager a few years ago, looks a cracking each-way proposition.

His draw has been kind and he should breeze through to the quarter-finals without much trouble, where Bulgarian Boris Georgiev may await.

From there it's wide open but Saunders has the speed, power and poise to make the kind of impact Khan did in Athens four years ago.

So to David Price, the Scouse super-heavyweight of whom big things are expected.

Price is a class act and the layers are possibly not mindful of the fact super-heavyweight fighters only need a couple of wins before being guaranteed a medal.

That's the good news.

The bad news is the Liverpudlian, who coach Terry Edwards rates as a better boxer than Audley Harrison was when he struck gold in 2000, has been handed a shocking first-round draw.

He'll have to get through European champion and world number one Islam Timurziev if he is to get anywhere in China.

It won't be easy as Timurziev is a class act but should he do the business there is every chance he'll make at least the final.

Price is a decent price for glory and I reckon he's worth an each-way punt (you collect if he gets past the semis), to shock a few in Asia.

Billy Joe Saunders and James Degale are also not without hope but nasty draws put me off backing the welterweight and middleweight stars.

One fighter I do like the look of at middle is Bakhtiyar Artayev. The Kazakhstan slugger claimed gold in Athens four years ago and won the Val Baker Trophy for Outstanding Boxer in Greece.

He has resisted the temptation to turn pro and while he didn't do much at the Worlds in Chicago (where he was upset by Alfonso Blanco) he remains a class act and looks too tempting a proposition considering the relatively mediocre field.Source - - - ????????????????????????????????????

**TommyGunn** · 08-08-2008, 10:52 AM

Billy "the pikey" Joe Saunders is my pick for a medal. A gypsy boxing champion, that makes him harder than a coffin nail.

08-08-2008, 10:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
the_godslayer Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 982	Brit ace Saunders can shine The greatest show on earth is upon us and in the boxing there has been controversy even before a punch has been thrown in anger. Frankie Gavin, who was arguably Great Britain's best chance of a gold medal in the Games, is on his way back to Blighty after failing to make the lightweight limit. Gavin, the two-time ABA and reigning Commonwealth and World champion, simply couldn't boil his 22-year-old frame down to lightweight and as a consequence he will now spend the next fortnight in his native Birmingham rather than Beijing. It's a bitter blow for Team GB, but all is not lost. We still have seven fighters gunning for glory and it's my view that at least two of these can medal. Sedgefield switch-hitter Bradley Saunders boxes at light-welterweight and at big odds I reckon he is being seriously overlooked by the bookmakers. Saunders claimed bronze at the world championships in Chicago last year and won gold in the prestigious Presidents Cup in Taiwan recently. In that tournament he beat Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong (favourite for gold at light-welter) and that win proves he belongs in elite class. Serik Sapiyev, the reigning world champion, has been chalked up as the event jolly but Saunders, who pushed Amir Khan close while still a teenager a few years ago, looks a cracking each-way proposition. His draw has been kind and he should breeze through to the quarter-finals without much trouble, where Bulgarian Boris Georgiev may await. From there it's wide open but Saunders has the speed, power and poise to make the kind of impact Khan did in Athens four years ago. So to David Price, the Scouse super-heavyweight of whom big things are expected. Price is a class act and the layers are possibly not mindful of the fact super-heavyweight fighters only need a couple of wins before being guaranteed a medal. That's the good news. The bad news is the Liverpudlian, who coach Terry Edwards rates as a better boxer than Audley Harrison was when he struck gold in 2000, has been handed a shocking first-round draw. He'll have to get through European champion and world number one Islam Timurziev if he is to get anywhere in China. It won't be easy as Timurziev is a class act but should he do the business there is every chance he'll make at least the final. Price is a decent price for glory and I reckon he's worth an each-way punt (you collect if he gets past the semis), to shock a few in Asia. Billy Joe Saunders and James Degale are also not without hope but nasty draws put me off backing the welterweight and middleweight stars. One fighter I do like the look of at middle is Bakhtiyar Artayev. The Kazakhstan slugger claimed gold in Athens four years ago and won the Val Baker Trophy for Outstanding Boxer in Greece. He has resisted the temptation to turn pro and while he didn't do much at the Worlds in Chicago (where he was upset by Alfonso Blanco) he remains a class act and looks too tempting a proposition considering the relatively mediocre field.Source - - - ???????????????????????????????????? __________________ Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone

08-08-2008, 10:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
TommyGunn Administrator Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,317	Re: Brit ace Saunders can shine Billy "the pikey" Joe Saunders is my pick for a medal. A gypsy boxing champion, that makes him harder than a coffin nail.