British boxers struggling under weight of expectations

[the_godslayer]

Staying alive: Light-heavyweight Tony Jeffries is through to the last eight but will need to improve if he is to stand any chance of a medal Photo: Reuters


The loss of world lightweight champion Frankie Gavin, who flew home to Birmingham after failing to make the weight, was partially offset by super-heavyweight David Price's unexpected victory over Russia's Islam Timurziev.
But bantam Joe Murray went out in the opening round to be followed on Thursday by light-welter Brad Saunders and his welterweight namesake Billy Joe Saunders in a double whammy for Terry Edwards' much-hyped squad.
Suddenly British hopes do not appear so rosy. Price and light-heavyweight Tony Jeffries are through to the last eight while middleweight James DeGale and flyweight Khalid Yafai will endeavour to join them on Saturday.
The 6ft 8in Price has been a revelation, but still faces formidable opposition and – like all super-heavies – is always just one big punch away from oblivion. The game and wholehearted Jeffries would crawl the length of the Great Wall if there was a medal at the end of it, but urgently needs to raise his game.
DeGale impressed in his opening bout and is clearly not overawed by the Olympic experience, but finds himself in the toughest half of the 75kg draw. He takes on American Shawn Estrada on Saturday.
So what of Yafai, the 19-year-old from Birmingham, who faces a murderously tough Olympic debut against Cuba's Andris Laffita Hernandez a few hours earlier?
At 30, Hernandez – who in 1999 was banned for two years after testing positive for anabolic steroids – is an experienced operator with extensive international experience, although it is always possible this may prove one tournament too far.
Yafai booked his Games place in Italy by overcoming a seven-point deficit against Moldavia's Igor Samoilenco. He then won silver at the European Union Championships in Poland in June, but is viewed as more of a prospect for London 2012 than a realistic medal hope here.
More boxer than slugger, Yafai – who like Naseem Hamed has family roots in the Yemen – reckons his style is suited to computer scoring.
Whether he will still be saying that tomorrow remains to be seen.


source - - - British boxers struggling under weight of expectations - Olympics - Telegraph

[NFFC]

They've been a bit pathetic so far IMO. Hopefully one of them can get a medal.

[TommyGunn]

Im disapointed in Billy Joe, i hadf tipped him for a medal. I can agree with him saying some of his body work was not counted but he'd still have lost that fight clearly. Joe Murray was very hard done by though.

Jeffries and Yousaf aint gonna do much id say although im behind them but the big man Price must be a serious danger for the gold now after stopping the #1.

[NFFC]

Originally Posted by TommyGunn

Im disapointed in Billy Joe, i hadf tipped him for a medal. I can agree with him saying some of his body work was not counted but he'd still have lost that fight clearly. Joe Murray was very hard done by though.

Jeffries and Yousaf aint gonna do much id say although im behind them but the big man Price must be a serious danger for the gold now after stopping the #1.

Me too. It was a really disappointing effort .