British middleweight James DeGale yesterday claimed he could beat anyone in the world after qualifying for the Olympic final today.
DeGale’s astonishing run from outsider to Games finalist continued with a convincing 10-3 victory over Ireland’s Darren Sutherland, a man who had beaten the Briton four times in their five meetings before Beijing.
The southpaw was not expected to get this far, but he upset Kazakhstan’s Bakhtiyar Artayev, the gold medalist at welterweight in Athens, in the quarter-finals and was brimming with self-belief.
PHOTO: AFP
“I had a feeling in my bones. On my day I can beat anyone in the world and now the weight’s perfect, my head’s perfect. It’s lovely,” he said. “It’s unbelievable; I was dreaming about this; it’s all coming together; I’m the man; the whole set-up is perfect.”
DeGale proved too quick and slippery for Sutherland and produced a sensational third round where he picked the Irishman apart, taking it 5-1.
“It was easy; I’m so fit, four rounds is nothing; it’s a walk in the park for me,” he said. “I think it’s the best I looked. Was it the best I looked? It was nice, I enjoyed it.
Sutherland was gracious in defeat and said he would now turn his attentions to the professional ranks.
“I couldn’t have done any more and I’m not even going to think I could have. I wish him [DeGale] the best of luck in the finals. They’re not going to play my national anthem unfortunately, but I’ll be humming it in my head,” he said.
Sutherland did criticize DeGale’s style, but said he was a deserved winner.
“He didn’t want to get involved; he used his tactics; he did what he had to do to win,” Sutherland said. “I hurt him and if he says I didn’t he’s lying. We’re not playing chess out there, you have to get stuck in.”
DeGale faces Emilio Correa in the final after the Cuban beat Vijender Kumar of India 8-5 in the other semi-final.
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT
China’s Zhang Zhilei reached today’s super heavyweight gold medal bout when his scheduled semi-final opponent Vyacheslav Glazkov of Ukraine was forced to pull out with an injury yesterday.
Glazkov, who was already assured of a bronze medal, had an elbow injury and withdrew, the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) said in a statement.
Zhang will face either Britain’s David Price or Roberto Cammarelle of Italy for the gold medal.
Glazkov was at the center of controversy after his quarter-final win over Algeria’s Ouatah Newfel when the African fighter’s coach Amri Houari accused Olympic officials of corruption.
Houari claimed the judges were biased against his man, who lost 10-4.
Zhang easily beat Kazakhstan’s Ruslan Myrsatayev in his fight to make the semi-final.
THAI FIGHTERS
Thailand’s boxing gold medal hopes Manus Boonjumnong and Somjit Jongjohor both kept their Olympic dreams alive in the semi-finals yesterday.
Reigning champion Manus produced an at times ragged performance in beating Cuban light-welterweight Roniel Iglesias 10-5, while Somjit outclassed Italy’s Vincenzo Picardi 7-1 at flyweight.
The 33-year-old veteran Thai, who had described Picardi as “dipping sauce” before their fight, is hoping to add Olympic gold to the world title he won back in 2003.
Manus admitted the pressure had got to him a little.
He had a healthy lead after he was given two points when Iglesias was penalized for a headbutt, but he was jeered at the end by spectators for not engaging in battle in the final round.
“Yes, I felt the pressure because I was the champion four years ago,” he said before vowing to give his all in the final. “I will fight to the death. I will give my life in the ring.”
Manus will face Felix Diaz of the Dominican Republic after he beat France’s Alexis Vastine 12-10 in a contentious bout.
Vastine, who stood a full seven inches over Diaz, was largely in control throughout, but was twice harshly penalized for pushing his opponent down.
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