British boxing fans have the chance to see an international boxing contest of quality that is rarely seen outside the latter stages of the Olympics, when leading male and female boxers from the United States, China, Sweden and Ireland make up the ‘Rest of the World’ team to fight the cream of British Olympic hopefuls in Cardiff on Friday 30th July.
With Britain’s recent European Championship medal winners facing-up to US National Champions and Chinese and Asian Champions, there are some bouts to savour at the tournament, and a homecoming for Wales’ Andrew Selby, who fights on home turf for the first time since winning his Bronze medal at the European Championships..
In the audience watching will be almost 100 of the greatest ex-Olympic and World Boxing champions, who are in Cardiff for the weekend boxing festival. The chance to fight before, meet and receive advice from so many boxing legends adds an edge to the tournament, as commented upon by European Bronze Medallist Andrew Selby:
“I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait to go back to Cardiff and fight in front of the fans, especially when the likes of Vitali Klitschko and Erik Morales will be in the crowd. That will be a great experience because Morales is one of my favourite boxers of all time.”
Details of the provisional line-up for the Great Britain v Rest of the World amateur tournament in Cardiff were released today by the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) who are organising the tournament in association with the Welsh Amateur Boxing Association (WABA), and with Welsh Assembly Government financial support, as part of the 3-Day Night of Champions international boxing festival being held in Cardiff from 29th-31st July 2010.
Announcing the list of bouts, BABA Performance Director Rob McCracken said:
“Everything we are doing is focused on delivering success at the 2012 Olympics and preparing our athletes in the best possible way.
“A key part of that is creating opportunities for the athletes to test themselves against top quality opposition and this competition will definitely do that.
“I expect it to be a good learning experience for our athletes and another opportunity to benchmark both the men and women’s squads against top class opponents and assess how they are progressing in the journey towards 2012.”
The tournament is being supported by the Welsh Assembly Government, and Welsh Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones AM commented:
“We are delighted to be hosting this prestigious event, and to support the British boxing team as we prepare for the 2012 Games. I am particularly pleased that two Welshmen will be in the tournament, with Andrew Selby fighting on home turf for the first time since his brilliant bronze medal at the recent European Championships.
“We are equally delighted that the Chinese national boxing team, who are in Cardiff for a Sport Wales-backed training camp, are contributing to members of the Rest of the World team. We look forward to the Chinese returning next year to Cardiff for a GB v China pre-Olympic tournament.”
Night of Champions boxing festival organiser Kevin Hayde added:
“The Festival celebrates all aspects of boxing, from champions of the past, and unsung heroes behind the scenes, to the champions of tomorrow. We are delighted that such a high calibre international amateur event forms part of the Festival, and that so many past Champions and legends of the ring will be in the audience encouraging young men and women from around the world.”
The line-up announced today is provisional, subject to competitors’ fitness and coaches’ final decisions on the development needs of their athletes.
The line-up for the tournament is as follows:
Men
54kg Andrew Selby (Barry, Wales) v Jiawei Zhang (China)
After his performance in Russia last month, the only Welsh double European medal winner in history, Andrew Selby faces a rising Chinese star in Jiawei Zhang.
57kg – Iain Weaver (Bournemouth) v Juan Tan (China)
England’s European Championship Silver Medallist Iain Weaver faces tough opposition in the Chinese number two!
60kg – Tom Stalker (Liverpool) v Duran Cafferro (USA)
Liverpool’s European Silver Medallist Tom Stalker faces US No1 Duran Caffero, in a bout that brings together two of the best boxers in the world at this weight category.
64kg – Bradley Saunders (Stockton) v Ross Hickey (Ireland)
One of our top British boxers, Bradley Saunders won a World bronze medal in 2007, and competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He faces one of Ireland’s rising stars in an exciting match-up with Ross Hickey.
69kg – Fred Evans (Cardiff) v Errol Spence (USA)
Hometown-boy Fred Evans meets the 2009 US National Champion in one of the toughest challenges yet faced by the Cardiff boxer.
75kg –Anthony Ogogo (Lowestoft) v Jason Quigley (Ireland)
Double ABA Champion, Anthony Agogo is to take on a young Irish boxer, looking to cement his name in amateur boxing.
81kg – Obed Mbwakongo (London) v Fanlong Meng (China)
Obed Mbwakongo, another double ABA champion faces one of China’s finest boxers, Asian Silver Medallist Fanlong Meng.
91kg – Warren Baister (Sunderland) v Babacar Kamara (Sweden)
National senior ABA Champion, Warren Baister is matched up with a rising Swedish boxer, Babacar Kamara.
91kg+ – Amin Isa (London) v Sean Turner (Ireland)
2009 ABA champion Amin Isa is pitted against Irish super heavyweight, Sean Turner.
Women
51kg –Nicola Adams (London) v Shipra Nilsson (Sweden)
After Nicola Adams became World Silver Medallist in China 2008, she faces a difficult competitor in Swedish Shipra Nelson, of the leading female boxing team in the world.
60kg – Amanda Coulson (Hartlepool) v Helena Falk (Sweden)
European silver medallist in 2008, Amanda Coulson faces another Swedish up and comer – Helena Falk.
69kg – Savannah Marshall (Hartlepool) v Love Holgersson (Sweden)
2009 European Champion, Savannah Marshall faces a difficult match in Love Holgersson, another fearsome Swedish competitor.