(19 July, 1996)
The first step in crowining 12 Olympic Bbxing gold medalists was taken today, when the draw was finally completed. There are 355 boxers from 55 different countries that are included in the competition bracket.
The weight classes that will box tomorow include bantamweight (54kg) and welterweight (67kg). Some key match-ups to watch in the bantamweight class are the bout between Hungary's Istvan KOVACS and Turkey's Soner KARAOZ. KOVACS is a bronze medalist from the 1992 Olympic Games and was a world champion in 1991.
Another boxer to watch in this weight class is Raimkul MATABHEKOV from the Russian Federation who is the gold medalist from the 1992 Games. He will meet Jose M. COTTO of Puerto Rico in the first round. Thailand's Vichai Rachanon KHADPO was ranked as the AIBA's top boxer at the end of 1995 and is in contention to win the country's first-ever gold medal. He will meet the Canadian Claude LAMBERT in his opening round.
In the welterweight class the favorite to win the gold medal is Cuba's Juan HERNANDEZ who will face Hungary's Jozcef NAGY in the first round. HERNANDEZ is a three-time world champion (1991, 1993, and 1995), and is also a silver medalist from the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. USA's Fernando VARGAS is also in contention to win the gold medal. He was the light welterweight bronze medalist at the 1995 Pan-American Games. He will box Tenzig MESCHADZE from the country of Georgia.
Every boxer and coach now knows who they will face in their first battle. Some only have one day, less than 24 hours, to prepare their winning strategy. When the bell rings tomorow it will not be time to think about or reflect on awards or accolades that each boxer has received in the past. Those rankings will have no bearing on the the 12 minutes that lie ahead for each boxer once he steps into the ring to face what might lead to their greatest accomplishment yet - receiving an Olympic gold medal.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Shilpa Bakre.
| Pin trading was one of the most popular Olympic sports, with more than 1.2 million pins changing hands during the Games in the Coca Cola Pin Trading Center at Centennial Olympic Park. |