It's been a rough experience for the USA Boxing team in China. There were many hopefuls in all the weight classes but the team only walked away with a bronze medal, making it the worst USA Boxing team in history. In the past, boxers like Cassius Clay, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Oscar De La Hoya, Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield, Michael Spinks, and Mark Breland were born at the Olympics, but that seems to be a thing of the past.
Heavyweight boxer, Deontay Wilder, lost 7-1 in his match against Italian champ Clemente Russo, but was still awarded the bronze medal for making it to the semi-final. Wilder was the only USA boxer to make it to any fight worth a medal.
"To be here and win a medal is great," Wilder told the Associated Press. "I'm not a guy to complain. I'll get back in the gym to work and get better."
Who's to blame? Some say the infrastructure of USA Boxing, other says the system of amateur boxing at the Olympics. At the same time, promoters and managers encourage young fighters to go professional instead of representing the country at the Olympics. An overhaul is being called for, we'll see if it happens in time for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Comments: (7)
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By: jesus"s kin on 8/25/2008 2:33PM
i must agree with former champ real deal the atomsphere for young boxers is mnot conducsive to succeed today telling the young guys don"t worry about winning a metal because you still have your pro career on the horizion when don't put it all on the lineto wing get out of the way because you will be ran over by the ones who do
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By: Darrell Smith on 8/27/2008 8:54AM
I watched most of the boxing matches, in my opinion and I have had 218 amateur matches and 7 pro fights so I think I can speak on the subject the scoring in the Olympic was a complete outrage you cannot have different scoring to try and make amateur boxing alot different from professional boxing in the ring is boxing a sport apart from all the others and it always will be and as long as you have crooked scoring that makes absolutely no sense you get the same results without change!!!!!!
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By: Chris on 8/27/2008 10:31AM
I TOTALY agree with Darrell. Eventhough I'm a WRESTLER,:( I learned about the scoring system in Olympic boxing. And it SUCKS!
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By: BOLDEN RICHARD on 8/27/2008 1:55PM
I AM A BIG FAN OF BOXING. I BELIEVE BOXER'S SHOULD
REPRESENT THE TALENT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES.THE
OLYMPIC'S HAS OPEN MANY DOORS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
BUT TO GET A FAIR SHAKE OF THE DEAL. OUR BOXER'S
HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE TO BEAT THEIR OPPONNET
BY A LARGER MARGIN. BECAUSE OF OUR ABILITY TO
DOMINATE OVER OTHERS. WE BEING WHO WE ARE WILL ALWAYS
COME BACK, EVEN STRONGER....YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE
ASHAME ABOUT....,
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By: Larry Fafarman on 8/27/2008 3:28PM
I thought that pros are now eligible for the Olympics. Professional basketball players and cyclists have competed in the Olympics.
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By: privateskooldeb on 9/02/2008 2:05PM
I watched as our American team was cheated. There are no others words to explain it. I am an amateur boxing judge, and so are they. Those of us judges here in the states who watched the boxing was livid with the scoring. The first day they wouldn't score clean body shots? I don't have a clue to why the scores were so lopsided. There are 5 judges around the ring and they use computer scoring. All 5 judges have to see the punch at the same time and they have to push the red corner or the blue corner within a two second window.
This system of scoring has got to go. Hell some of the judges are older and have slow reflexes..There is also a buzz that's it's all political. That two second window has to go!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: P.WATFORD on 8/30/2008 1:20PM
I HAVE BEEN IN BOXING FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND FOUGHT OVER 115 AMATUER FIGHTS AND NUMEROUS TITLES AND OVER 60 PRO FIGHTS.AMATUER BOXING IS NOT FAIR TO KIDS AND EVERYONE IS EXPIOTING THE AMATUER BOXER TO MAKE MONEY. HELP KIDS NOT FILL YOUR BANK ACCT.
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