Wednesday, Jul 09, 2003
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Boxing
``As long as we have `USA' on the back of our vests we are not going to win a bout here — I am convinced of that now,'' said Gentile, after watching all eight American boxers, in early action, end up on the first round scrapheap. ``The only way for us to win a bout is for our guy to knock out his opponent. I do not know what is going on (with the judges), be it an anti-superpower thing or what, but there is definitely something happening. ``In the scoring, we are not even close — they are getting us, that is for sure.'' The U.S. team's slump comes after its failure to win a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games, for the first time since 1948, and its exit from the 2001 World amateur championships in Northern Ireland without a title. The once-mighty Americans, with Muhammad Ali (1960 as Cassius Clay), Joe Frazier (1964), George Foreman (1968), Oscar de la Hoya (1992) and Sugar Ray Leonard (1976) all claiming Olympic boxing gold before going on to superstardom in the professional game, have been demoralised by their failures at this championships. Gentile went on the offensive against the judges after Jamaican-born middleweight Leon Hinds lost badly on points to unheralded Anwar Yasser of Egypt, to become the eighth straight American to go out in the first round. ``Did you see that? It is unbelievable,'' said Gentile. ``He fought well and the other guy just rushed forward, but he (the Egyptian) scored the points. How could Leon (Hinds) lose that one 21-9? I feel so sorry for him.'' Gentile said that the American squad had prepared well for the event and was devastated by the disastrous campaign so far. ``This is really damaging a year out from the Olympics,'' said Gentile. ``These guys are top liners and they were in training camp for three weeks before coming here — they are in great shape. ``It is a shame they have been treated like this (by the judges). We have a couple of good guys left to fight but I am not making any predictions about their chances (of winning)''. In contrast to the U.S.'s dismal campaign, Cuba has maintained the momentum which saw it lift seven of the 12 gold medals at the 2001 World championships. Cuba, which has given world class boxers like three-time Olympic champions Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon, has won all its bouts with defending champions Guillermo Ortiz Rigondeaux, Martinez Diongenes Luna and Odlanier Fonte Solis looking good to defend their titles in the bantamweight, light welterweight and heavyweight categories respectively. Luna edged Sarsekbaev Banit of Uzbekistan 24-23 in one of the best bouts of the championships. — AFP
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