Team GB on target after day 9 in Chicago by Tom Walker Nov 1st 2007

British boxing has taken giant steps forward this week, in Chicago, in the XIV AIBA World Championships. Four boxers have already qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, with super heavyweight, David Price, one bout away from both a medal and qualification. Great Britain's performance has been positive and is beginning to realise some of the potential that all in the sport have long known exists. Currently the England team are ranked tied sixth in the overall official AIBA World Championship team rankings. Today, Thursday 1st November, sees Joe Murray, Frankie Gavin, Bradley Saunders, Tony Jeffries and David Price all in action in the quarter finals. All these men have won three contests each and will at least achieve bronze medals if they should have a winning Thursday. Day Nine at the XIV AIBA World Championships (Wednesday 31st October), University of Illinois at Chicago 60kg Frankie Gavin (ENG) bt Ramal Amanov (AZE) 21:10 60kg, southpaw, Lightweight, Frankie Gavin, Hall Green ABC, Yardley, Birmingham, became the 3rd England boxer to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a 21:10 win over reigning World Silver medallist Ramal Amanov (Azerbaijan), here, in Chicago, at the XIV World Championships. There was nothing light weight about Gavin's performance. Gavin was boxing a mirror image of himself, a fellow tricky, world class, southpaw, so it was never going to be a pretty contest, but the bout was entertaining none the less. Fun-Time Frankie took stance right in front of Amanov, forcing Amanov to retreat and beating Amanov to the punch. Gavin surprised and shock his opponent, in the first round, with a hard straight left cross, which dropped Amanov on to the seat of his pants. With a lead of 4:2 at the end of the first Frank reverted to skirting around the ring, picking off the Azerbaijani, as Amanov attempted to trap the elusive Brit. 10:4, at the end of the second round, became 15:8, by the end of the 3rd round, this despite the ref adding 2 points to Amanov's score for Frank supposedly ducking his head too low. Southpaw versus awkward southpaw often throws up a muddle in the clinches. Frank was slipping Amanov's lead and the frustrated, out boxed, Azerbaijani leant on Frank, forcing Gavin to the canvas on three occasions. It was on the second of these incidents that Frank harshly lost the 2 points. 21:10, the final result, fully reflected Gavin's superiority, he was twice as good as the Azerbaijani, Frank next boxes on the evening of Thurs 1st Nov against tough Turk, Onur Sipal for a bronze medal. Frankie Gavin “Get the clippers out” (N.B. referring to the coaches and support staff around the team having to have their hair shaved off as per the boxing team, if GB qualify 4 boxers from these World Championships. Light heavyweight, Tony Jefferies and Super heavyweight, David Price are still in the competition and both hope to qualify.) “Buzzing when I decked him in the 1st round, I could really feel the power coming through. Carrying Terry's wallet has been great weight training” “Preparation has been perfect. Big thanks to UK Sport lottery funding, it's their support and the full-time training that has made the difference” Terry Edwards, Head Coach GB boxing, “Frank's been world class for 4 years, he showed that again this afternoon” 81kg Tony Jeffries (ENG) bt Ramazan Magomedov (BLR) 18:6 81kg, Sunderland ABC, Light Heavyweight Tony Jeffries became the fourth British boxer to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games when, in his third bout of the tournament, he defeated Ramazan Magomedov (Belarus) at the XIV AIBA World Championships at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The hard punching Sunderland light heavyweight never allowed his elusive opponent to get into the contest. Jeffries forced the pace from the off hurting the Belarussian with solid straight punches. Jeffries' power, intensity and work rate were too much for Magomedov. A 5:2 lead in the first round developed into 10:3 at the end of the second, by which time Magomedov realised his flick and pick style was not going to work against the Sunderland thumper. In the third round the Belarussian didn't really want any part of the powerful Jeffries. He settled for running, holding, and trying to get lucky with the odd big shot. 15:8 at the end of the third round helped persuade Magomedov to spend the entire last round grabbing hold of Jeffries. Tony knew he had a big lead and so allowed the Belarussian to grab hold of him for most of the round. Jeffries ran out a comfortable winner 16:8. Tony Jeffries “Hasn't sunk in yet. I want to win a medal.” “Thanks to Terry for believing in me and for the preparation for these championships.” Terry Edwards “He stuck to the game plan, kept a high tempo, and hurt the Belarussian. His confidence is high from sparring in Philly.” +91kg David Price (ENG) bt Primislav Dimovski (MKD) 20:4 24 year old, six foot seven, +91kg, Super Heavyweight, David Price (Salisbury PC club, Liverpool), convincingly defeated Primislav Dimovski (Macedonia) 20:4. This win takes price into the quarter finals where he meets renowned Italian super heavyweight southpaw Roberto Cammarelle tomorrow (Thurs 1st November). A win against the 2004 Olympic bronze medallist would qualify Price for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (heavyweights and super heavyweights must reach the last four to qualify, all other weights need to reach the last eight). David was too big, too strong, too powerful and altogether too good for the Macedonian. Price had a lead of 10:2 at the end of the first round, 16:2 at the end of the second, where he had clearly shaken the Macedonian up with quality straight lefts, a powerful right cross and twice with wicked right uppercuts. Price coasted to an 18:4 lead at the end of the third round. In really what had now become only a practise spar for the big Liverpudlian. The last round was a bit of a non-event as David didn't really want to punish Dimosvki and the Macedonian didn't really want to be hit. Hence the final score of 20:4. David Price “Satisfied. Could have gone for the twenty point stoppage in the third but I settled for a nice work-out. It's been good to get some rounds in.” Terry Edwards GB Head Coach “Excellent. Good from the big man and a good days work all round for British boxing.” Results from Wednesday 31st 60kg Frankie Gavin (ENG) bt Ramal Amanov (AZE) 21:10 81kg Tony Jeffries (ENG) bt Ramazan Magomedov (BLR) 16:8 +91kg David Price (ENG) bt Primislav Dimovski (MKD) 20:4 Schedule - Thursday 1st 54kg Joe Murray (ENG) v Yu Gu (CHN) 60kg Frankie Gavin (ENG) v Onur Sipal (TUR) 64kg Bradley Saunders (ENG) v Alexis Vastine (FRA) 81kg Tony Jeffries (ENG) v Yerkebuian Shynaliyev (KAZ) +91kg David Price (ENG) v Roberto Cammarelle (ITA)

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