After tonight's competition at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum, all of the gold medal bouts are set for the final day of Olympic boxing competition. Maikro ROMERO (CUB) defeated Albert PAKEEV (RUS), advancing to the semifinals, 12-6. ROMERO will meet Bulet DZUMADIKOV (KAZ) who defeated Zoltan LUNKA (GER) 23-18. The two had met before in the world championships where LUNKA prevailed 11-6, winning a world championship gold medal. However, DZUMADIKOV got his revenge tonight as LUNKA had to settle for the bronze medal and DZUMADIKOV goes head-to-head with ROMERO for the gold.
"I'm happy I won the fight, but I'm not happy about the fight itself," said DZUMADIKOV (KAZ). "I didn't do anything special to win the fight."
Somluck KAMSING (THA) ranked number two in the world, prevailed over Pablo CHACON (ARG) 20-8. He will face Bulgarian two-time world champion Serafim TODOROV who defeated USA'S Floyd MAYWEATHER, 10-9. Currently the decision in this bout is being protested by USA Boxing officials and a decision should be made within 24 hours. As it currently stands KAMSING will box TODOROV for the gold medal.
"I have a good trainer and I trained very hard and I paid a lot of attention to the fight, KAMSING (THA). "I hope I can win a gold medal for our king."
Meeting in the semifinals are world champion Hector VINENT of Cuba and Oktay URKAL of Germany, a bronze medalist at the 1995 World Championships. VINENT defeated Bolat NIYAZYMBETOV (KAZ) 23-6, and URKAL beat Fathi MISSAOUI (TUN) 20-6.
"I knew I was ahead on points and I was fairly sure I would win the fight," said URKAL (GER). I'm very happy to advance into the gold medal bout. I just hope all of Germany is keeping their fingers crossed for me in the gold medal fight."
David REID, Pan-American welterweight gold medalist was the only USA boxer to advance into the gold medal rounds. He defeated Karim TULAGANOV (UZB) 12-4. REID will meet Cuba's Alfredo DUVERGEL, who received a silver medal at the world championships. DUVERGEL beat Ezmouhan IBAZIMOV (KAZ) 28-19. REID and TULAGANOV will meet 4 August at 20:00.
"This is the Olympics and not many people get to go to the Olympics," said REID (USA). "It's a great feeling to get the chance to get to fight for that gold. People didn't expect the U.S. team to get as many medals as we have now."
In tonight's biggest upset, Antonio TARVER (USA) reigning world champion and Pan-American gold medalist was defeated. Vasili JIROV (KAZ) defeated him 15-9, in a rematch of the 1995 World Championships semifinals where TARVER defeated him 9-6. However, tonight history would not repeat itself as JIROV won on points in both the second and third rounds. JIROV will face LEE Seung -Bae (KOR), who won on an upset, defeating world champion bronze medalist Thomas ULRICH (GER) 12-8.
"I gave it my all. I have to move on from here," said TARVER (USA). "I put my heart out. I've got to accept this. What can I say. Guy's work their whole lives for an opportunity like this."
The Tongan terror, who wasn't even expected to make to the final rounds, will compete for his country's first gold medal. Paea WOLFGRAMM defeated Duncan DOKIWARI (NGR) in a close battle 7-6. WOLFGRAMM will face Vladimir KLICHKO who defeated the reigning world champion Alexei LEZIN 4-1.
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