Olympics: Campbell seeks Britain's second boxing gold

LONDON (AFP) –

Luke Campbell of Great Britain (in red) fights against Satoshi Shimizu of Japan during the men’s bantamweight (56kg) boxing semi-finals of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Campbell advances to the final on a 20-11 points decsion.

Luke Campbell said Friday he’s relishing his chance to win Britain’s second London 2012 boxing gold when he takes on Ireland’s John Joe Nevin in the bantamweight final.

Nevin’s shock win over Cuban world champion Lazaro Alvarez 19-14 puts him in Saturday’s final against Campbell, who was comfortable in his 20-11 victory over Japan’s Satoshi Shimizu at London’s ExCel Arena.

“It will be great to have a GB verses Ireland final. He’s done great, I’ve done great,” said Campbell, who beat Nevin only on count-back in the semi-finals at last year’s world championships.

Campbell is the first male British boxer to reach an Olympic final in London after compatriot Nicola Adams won the women’s flyweight gold medal on Thursday, while Nevin is hunting Ireland’s second boxing gold after Katie Taylor took the women’s lightweight title.

But there was disappointment for Campbell’s British team-mate Anthony Ogogo, who finished with bronze after losing his middleweight semi-final 16-9 to Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao.

Esquiva Falcao of Brazil celebrates victory over Anthony Ogogo of Great Britain in the men’s Middleweight (75kg) boxing semi-finals of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Falcao advances to the final on a 16-9 points decision.

Ogogo has endured an emotional few months after his mother Teresa suffered a brain haemorrhage, and he admitted his disappointment at missing out on the final pales after hearing she faces more surgery next week.

In Saturday’s final, Falcao will face Japan’s Ryota Murata who is bidding to end his country’s 48-year wait for an Olympic boxing gold medal after his 13-12 win over Uzbekistan’s Abbos Atoev.

In the light flyweight final, reigning Olympic and world champion Zou Shiming will face Thailand’s Kaeo Pongprayoon, who beat Russia’s David Ayrapetyan 13-12 on Friday.

Zou booked his place with a 15-all count-back victory over Ireland’s Paddy Barnes on Friday.

Having lost 15-0 to Zou in the Olympic semi-finals four years ago, Barnes said he was proud to have pushed the defending champion having now won a bronze medal at the last two Olympics.

“For the final, I will be careful and meticulous and I will give it my best,” said Zou.

Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg of Mongolia (in red) fights against Denys Berinchyk of the Ukraine during the men’s light welterweight (64kg) boxing semi-finals of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Berinchyk advances to the final on a 29-21 points decision.

Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk saved the best for last to reach Saturday’s light welterweight final when he came back to take the third and final round 17-6 to seal a remarkable 29-21 win over Mongolia’s Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg.

Berinchyk was 15-12 down going into the final round, but having forced his opponent to take two standing counts, earned his place in Saturday’s final against Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias, who beat Italy’s Vincenzo Mangiacapre.

In the heavyweight final, Ukraine’s world champion Oleksandr Usyk will face Italy’s Clemente Russo, who beat Azerbaijan’s Teymur Mammadov 15-13 on Friday.