Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-08-24 16:11:27

(BEIJING, August 24) — China’s Zhang Xiaoping won the country’s second-ever Olympic Boxing gold medal in the light-heavyweight class by defeating Kenny Egan of Ireland, 11-7.

The first gold medal was claimed by Zou Shiming in the light-flyweight class earlier today.

Updated: 2007-02-06 From: Xinhuanet

LONDON, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) — Former British heavyweight champion Johnny Williams died at the age of 80 Monday.

At a time when his contemporaries in the ring in the late 1940s and early 50s were renowned for employing brute strength the Welsh-born Williams adopted a more scientific approach to his sport.

This attitude, coupled with his self-effacing nature, meant he failed to get the recognition given to rival boxers like Don Cockell who lost a title fight to Rocky Marciano.

One of Williams’ greatest fights was against Jack Gardner on July 17, 1950, at Leicester’s Granby Halls in a British and Commonwealth title eliminator - judged as one of the most gruelling bouts ever to be staged in Britain.

He was to lose it on points with both boxers ending up having to spend the night in a nearby hospital nursing injuries from the bruising encounter.

Williams, born in the Welsh resort of Barmouth on Christmas Day 1926, was to gain his revenge on Gardner over 15 rounds in 1952 when he seized both titles in what was to be his finest hour.

He turned professional in 1946 and retired in 1960 with a record of 60 wins (38 KOs), 11 losses and four draws.

Updated: 2007-10-10

A triumphal Zhang

(BEIJING, October 10)– China’s 27-year-old female boxer, Zhang Xiyan, became the WBA Super Flyweight champion after defeating ROK’s Kim Ha-Na on Tuesday night in Chengdu, China, at a boxing card held during the 86th WBA Annual Convention.

Zhang won unanimously with scores of 98-90, 98-89, 97-91 after a 10-round fight, and now she moves to 7-0-1, 2 KOs, while Kim falls to 8-2, 3 KOs, according to a WBA report.

The Chinese southpaw out-boxed her challenger at the start of the bout, taking advantage of her ring-craft and fast speed. Although Zhang was knocked down for several times, she bounced back and kept an offensive position until the last second. Over 1,000 fans at Sichuan Gym cheered for their heroine’s triumph.

“I knew that I won when the tenth round started,” said the joyful boxer, adding, “My aim is to defend the gold belt and win more championships.”

“Zhang, born in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang Province, was the world champion of 2002 and won the title of the World Cup in 2004.

Updated: 2008-08-24 16:09:59

Bakhyt Sarsekbayev (blue) of Kazakhstan fights with Carlos Banteaux Suarez. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Kazakhstan’s Bakhyt Sarsekbayev beat Cuban Carlos Banteaux Suarez to win the Olympic Boxing Welterweight (69kg) gold medal on Sunday.

Bakhyt Sarsekbayev (blue) of Kazakhstan fights with Carlos Banteaux Suarez. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Bakhyt Sarsekbayev (blue) of Kazakhstan fights with Carlos Banteaux Suarez. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Updated: 2008-08-24 15:57:03

Alexey Tishchenko of Russia celebrates during the awarding ceremony. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(BEIJING, August 24) — Alexey Tishchenko of Russia beat Daouda Sow of France 11-9 to win his second Olympic gold medal.

Tishchenko won a gold medal in the featherweight (57kg) class at Athens 2004, and he went up to the lightweight (60kg) class after winning the featherweight title at the 2005 World Championships. He then won the lightweight titles at both the European and World Championships in 2006.

Sow was the first boxer who challenged Tishchenko’s dominance of the weight class. Tishchenko outscored Sow in the first two rounds 7-4, but Sow had the better of the Russian boxer in the third round, narrowing the deficit to one point. He continued to be very aggressive at the beginning of the fourth round. However, Tishchenko’s experience helped him maintain the lead and secure the gold medal.

Updated: 2008-08-24 15:44:36

Alexey Tishchenko holds up the gold medal. (Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

Alexey Tishchenko of Russia edged past Daouda Sow of France to win the Men’s Lightweight (60kg) title at the Beijing Olympic Boxing tournament on Sunday.

Alexey Tishchenko (red) lands a punch on Daouda Sow (blue). (Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Alexey Tishchenko (red) competes with Daouda Sow. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Alexey Tishchenko celebrates. (Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Updated: 2008-08-24 15:41:29

Enkhbat of Mongolia celebrates with his gold medal. (Photo Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

(BEIJING, August 24) — Mongolia’s Badar-Uugan Enkhbat won the gold medal in the Olympic Boxing competition’s bantamweight class by pulling off an impressive 16-5 win over Yankiel Leon Alarcon of Cuba.

Enkhbat,the runner-up at last year’s World Championships, cruised to the gold medal match after winning his first four bouts convincingly before stepping onto the highest podium.

Enkhbat did most of the early attacking and the score was 4-1 in his favor at the end of the first round. The Cuban boxer came back in the second round, with the score tied on 4-4 at the end of the round.

Enkhbat moved quickly to keep away from his opponent and constantly used strong left-right combinations to score more points. The last two rounds saw Enkhbat score eight consecutive points, with a heavy roundhouse punch sealing victory.

“He (Enkhbat) fought his way and I couldn’t fight mine. Not with my left swing or my right swing. Nothing. He was always far from me. I couldn’t narrow the distance between us,” said Alarcon, who won the silver medal after losing to Enkhbat.

Enkhbat’s gold medal was his country’s first Olympic gold medal in Boxing and its second gold medal in Olympic history. .

Mongolia’s first gold medal in Olympic history was also won at Beijing 2008 when Tuvshinbayar Naidan won the Men’s -100kg Judo competition on August 14.

When asked about his future, Enkhbat said: “I will enter some more competitions so I can bring more honor to Mongolia.”