Final Olympic Qualifier

Team GB annouced their team today to compete at the final Olympic qualifier in Trabzon. As expected, Charlie Edwards was named at light-fly, and Anthony Agogo was picked at 75kg. Warren Baister was preferred to Simon Vallly at Heavy, which was expected. The picks at 60kg and 81kg were both shocks, as Sam Maxwell was selected at Lightweight over Iain Weaver and Martin Ward, whilst Callum Smith was selected to fight at light heavy.

Maxwell won the Gb championships last year and won the Bee Gee tournament recently representing Britain. The selection of Smith at light heavy is also a strange one. He represesent England as a Welterweight two years ago at the Commonwealths, and only stepped upto Middle last year. GB are very weak at 81kg, but they called the last two ABA champs into the squad recently. I would have thought they would have give one of them a run out. Smith has his work cut out, Joe Ward of Ireland is yet to qualify, and if he meets him, he will struggle.


Josh Taylor and Joe Cordina also represent Scotland and Wales respectively at lightweight.

Gutted to see Weaver not make it, saw him win his ABA title a few years ago in sheffield and had a brief chat with him at ringside on the night, he come across as a genuinely nice kid and have always had a bit of a soft spot for him since, does suggest we have some strength in depth though because I thought he looked the part when winning the ABA's and given it was a few years ago would have to assume he will have improved since then, although I would be lying if I said I followed the amateurs closely

Weaver's good, but only moved to lightweight after the featherweight division was abolished. I do wonder if he is a natural lightweight. It was a strange choice, Weaver and Ward have far more international experience, but if Maxwells qualifies then McCracken will have been vindicated in his selection. There's still a few spots left at lightweight if memory seves me. Both Ward and Weaver are around 20-22 so there is still time, just wonder if the pro's will be too much of a lure for them.

Its a shame, we have already seen some of the former team GB turn pro because they did not make it. Its highly unlikely they are going to train for another 4 years as amateurs.

Must be heartbreaking to have to give the news as well as hear it.

The event was delayed by a day due to fog, but the draq has finally been made.

Charlie Edwards has received a bye, and will box an Isreali or a Bulgarian in the next round.

At lightweight Cordina of Wales faces David Oliver Joyce of Ireland. Josh Taylor fights a Czech, but Maxwell has the nightmare draw, he faces the Russian former World Champion Albert Selimov.

Middleweight Agogo faces a macedonian, so that should be atraight forward enough.

Callum smith faces a Bulgarian at 81kg. Quite a fortunate draw as well, as the Bulgarian is also moving up from middle, where Darren O'neill defeated him in Baku.

Warren Baister faces a Frenchman at Heavyweight.


no idea who the Irish have been drawn against, but will post when I find out.

Irish first round draw is as follows:

Paddy Barnes faces a Hungarian at 49 kg.

As stated above Joyce faces Cordina of Wales.

Ross Hickey faces a Moldovan, thats a decent draw for him at light welter.

Adam Nolan faces a Pole at 69kg.

Joe Ward opens his account against Katende of Sweden at 81kg.

Tommy McCarthy of Belfast faces a Boznian at Heavy.

Sheehan faces a Turk at 91+. Always tough facing a host nation boxer.

First day of action over, three out of Four GB fighters progressed whilst both Irish fighters did so as well.

At Lightweight the massive shock is Sam Maxwell stopped Albert Selimov of Russia on cuts. An unbelievable result for the Liverpool fighter. Have to fancy

Joe Cordina of Wales was stopped in the third by Joyce of Ireland. Cordina was leading 10-4 after the first, but Joyce reversed that to lead 17-13 going into the last. The corner retired Cordina after more punishment. Joyce Will more than likely face a German in the next round.

Josh Taylor of Scotland also won 15-6 against a Czech opponent. Taylor's side of the draw is wide open, with Joyce, Brill and Maxwell all on the other side. He couldn't have asked for a better draw.

At light Heavy, Joe Ward defeated Sweden's Kennedy Katande 16-6. Faces a Turkish boxer in the next round, but in my opinion Ward is head and Shoulders above anybody else in Europe at the weight.

Great win for Callum Smith, defeated his Bulgarian opponent 16-13. He's on the opposite side of the draw from Ward as well, so still has an outside chance of qualifying.

As it stands, GB are still in with a shout of sending a full squad. So far Australia are the only nation that will be sending a full squad.

Looking at the way Ward took Kenny Egan apart so easily a couple of months ago it wouldn't be a great surprise if he qualifies. Showing great potential for an 18 year old (has he turned 19?).

Nah will turn 19 in August I think.

The way he destroyed Egan was frightening, I've never seen Egan handled like that, especially at Light Heavy. Watched the Chemistry Cup last month, and he thoroughly outclassed the Russian former European Champion in the Final.

It would be a massive shock to me if he didn't medal in London, Let alone qualify.

Disaster for Ward. All reports say he was robbed. The Irish reporters and Wards coaches are fairly disgruntled. Going to look for a link.

Yeah heard it was a poor decision. Gutted for the lad, but he's only 18 so can bounce back. I'm surprised, but not shocked about it. Luke Campbell was on the receiving end of an appalling decision against a Turk, at the last European Championships, surprisingly enough, in Turkey. They do have history for this.

Wards coach and the team manager were on the radio and pretty much said it was a home town decision and Ward was clearly the better fighter. The coach said the Turk scored more points than the number of punches he threw in the last two rounds.

The temptation will be to go pro now.

The appeal was thrown out as "no rules had been broken". John Dennen of Boxing News thought Ward won it as well.

Turkey should not have had the qualifier in the first place. For them to host the two biggest European competitions consectutively is blantant bias.

AIBA have revealed that Astana will host the World Championships. Like Baku and Turkey, they also have a WSB team.

Recap of the tournament:

At 49kg, Paddy Barnes stopped his Hungarian opponent in the 2nd round, he's one fight from Olympic qualification. Charlie Edwards lost to his Bulgarian opponent 17-12, GB's chances of sending a full team are gone.

At 60kg, Maxwell and Taylor both won again, both one fight from qualification. Unless one wins the tournament, there will be a box off again. David Joyce defeated his German opponent, who was the youth Olympic Champion, 24-14. Same scenario as Taylor and Maxwell. Maxwell boxes a Turk in the next round. Really hope he comes through it.

Adam Nolan defeated his Polish opponent at 69kg. Needs to win his next two bouts TO qualify.

Anthony Ogogo has advanced to the next round in the middleweight division. Same situation with Nolan, needs to make the final.

Callum Smith won again at light Heavy. Two wins from automatic qualification, though if he wins his net and loses to the eventual winner, he will qualify.

Warren Baister defeated his French opponent to advance to the next round, as did Tommy McCarthey. Both need to win.

Con Sheehan also lost to a Turk at Super-Heavy. Nothing controversial about the scores in that one.

Everyone's in again tomorrow.

6oldenbhoy is there a site where you can get the results from? Have you been watching any of the fights?

Aiba website mate. Update after every bout. No live links as of yet. I've seen a few Irish fights on replay. The Iaba channel on Youtube starts showing live on Friday.

Josh Taylor on now.

Josh Taylor qualifies for the games. Defeated his opponent comfortably, whilst Maxwell was defeated by a Turk. Joyce of Ireland was also defeated, the third time he has fell at the final hurdle. Took the defeat well and had nothing but praise for his opponent.

Paddy Barnes qualifies at 49kg. Defeated his Romanian opponent 17-6. He's now a two time Olympian. He will be tough to beat in London.

Callum Smith won again at 81kg, defeating his opponent 16-6. One win away from qualification, and meets an Azeri in the next round.

Adam Nolan defeated an Azeri, again he's one win away from qualification, but faces a very experienced Romanian in the next round.

Warren Baister, and Tommy McCarthy fight later tonight.

Anthony Ogogo wins on countback after being 12-6 down going into the last. Great comeback from him.

Any video of the Joe Ward fight out yet. Link?

I heard on the radio today that the Irish Olympic Committee are going to keep pushing to try to get Ward a wild card.

No link yet, still waiting. Did you get the Irish Daily Mail, Strongback? Jon Coates has a piece in it about Ward potentially getting a place. I can't get it where I am.


Belfast's Tommy McCarthy wins against his Hungarian opponent to book a place in the last 4. Needs to win the tournament to book a place.

At middle, the Russian favourite and Former European Champion has just lost to a Turk on countback. Leading by a point, he got a public warning, and subsequently lost on countback. Another supposedly blatant hometown decision.

Warren Baister is defeated by the Bulgarian. Tough draw, he's the favourite to win the tournament. Luckily for him and McCarthey, the Turk is out.

6oldenbhoy, I have been following the Ward story on an Irish board. They seem to think Ward has a good chance of getting a European wildcard.

Check out the link:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056608236&page=4

Cheers Strongback, I'd heard there was a wildcard spot, but I knew it was for the developing Olympic countries. I didn't know that no countries met the qualifying criteria. Going by what they are saying, Ward should be in pole position. He's the highest ranked boxer not to have qualified, he got to the same stage as the Azeri and the Bosnian at the Worlds, so neither have an advantage over him. A different Azeri fights Callum Smith for a place in the final, so if he wins, it's down to Ward and the Bosnian. If he doesn't, given AIBA's questionable relationship with Azerbaijan, I wouldn't be surprised to see get the other Azeri get the nod.

Adam Nolan reaches the final of the Welterweight category, and by doing so qualifies for the Olympics.

Callum Smith was just defeated by an Azeri 16-14. I have no idea how Smith was down going into the last. Terrible judging yet again. Needs the Azeri to beat the Turk in the final. Easier said than done though.

Josh Taylor was beaten by his Belarussian opponent, but has already qualified, so I can't imagine him losing much sleep.

Anthony Ogogo has qualified. Defeated his Belarusian (sp) opponent, to reach the Games. If I was wearing a hat, I would remove it as a mark of respect, as I thought he would struggle to qualify.

Tommy McCarthey is defeated in his Semi final by a Moldovan at Heavyweight. No Olympics for him, but he's still young, and can only improve from here on.

Ogogo and Nolan are the only GB or Irish boxers in action tomorrow.

Heartbreaking for Callum Smith. The Azeri lost 18-12 to the Turk in the final. He will not be going to the Olympics. The Azeri was 3-2 up after the first, but the Turk turned it around from to lead by two points after the Second.

Adam Nolan defeated his German opponent to win the Welterweight gold. It has been a great werk for a guy with next to no International experience.

Ogogo didn't appear for the final at middle, so his opponent was handed the Gold by walkover.

Well done to the guys who qualified.

Does my nut in though that in a sport like this, home advantage can be exploited so much for something so important as Olympic qualifying. Turkey will nearly field a full squad now for London.

Not like the Aussies, however, who do manage to field a full team. Maybe not too fair.

The thing that gets me is that, while everybody and their dog knows amateur boxing is bent, AIBA make no attempts to even hide it. The way certain nations get more than their fair share of international competitions and the selection of judges for bouts, for example, is deplorable.

Taking Callum Smith's semi final bout as an example, two of the Judges were from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, both Turkic states along with Azeribaijan. How can that be fair when facing an Azeri? If it was reversed and two of the judges were from Scotland and Wales, there would be uproar, and quite rightly so. The block voting of these two judges is what cost Smith a victory.

There is an article in today's Irish Independant. It's a bit partisan in places, but nonetheless, it's worth the read.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/boxing-bruised-by-another-low-blow-3088319.html

Heres hoping Selby and Evans pick up Gold

I think Selby has a good chance