Boxing News magazine 7.6.2004 Download pdf

Boxing News magazine 7.6.2004 Download pdf
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Thomsen dies
SWEDISH boxing is mourning the death of Hasse
Thomsen, their 1972 Munich Olympic heavyweight
bronze medallist who died on April 26 aged 62.
Thomsen was short, powerfully-built and brave.
He became re-involved in Swedish amateur boxing
following a short and unsuccessful pro career.
Winning bronze in Germany was clearly the highlight
of his 120-odd amateur bouts. He was eliminated on
points by Romanian southpaw Ion Alexe in the semis to
clinch his medal. The other semi saw formidable Cuban
legend Teofilo Stevenson crush home favourite Peter
Hussing in two.
Alexe didn't make the final because of a broken
bone in his right hand and Stevenson collected the
first of three consecutive Olympic golds.

Diaz reward
THERE is a surprise title shot for Juan Diaz, the
unbeaten Texan lightweight who last month smashed
Martin O'Malley to defeat in two rounds in Temecula,
California.
He has been handed a chance to challenge WBA
champion Lakva Sim of Mongolia on July 17. The
match will be televised in the US on HBO. No venue
has been confirmed or what the main event will be.
Sim won the vacant title stopping Miguel Callist of
Panama in Las Vegas on the Lamon Brewster-Wladimir
Klitschko bill a week before Diaz defeated O'Malley.
Diaz, only 20 but undefeated in 24, was once
compared by manager Shelly Finkel with the lightweight
Roberto Duran, but it was a tall order for him
to match the accomplishments of "Hands of Stone".
Quietly, though, Diaz has been learning his trade
and obviously improved since I last saw him early in
his career. Sim is rough and strong, but Diaz may have
too much skill for him. It's a facsinating bout.
Also interesting is how Diaz leapfrogged Frenchman
Julien Lorcy, who was supposed to be next in line for
the Mongolian.

Gomez defence
MICHAEL GOMEZ'S first defence of the WBU superfeatherweight
belt will be against France's Bouziane
Oudji at the Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes on May
22.
Gomez, in the best form of his career, captured
the vacant belt in Manchester last month when
overpowering Ghana's Ben Odamattey in three.

Amateur plea
IT WAS good to see the Beeb cover the
Four Nations. Wide media coverage will lift
amateur boxing to new heights and evoke
better performances from our future stars.
Nearly every year the BBC feature the ABA
finals but in recent years they have screened
them very late.
Screenings of about 11pm would certainly
generate more interest and raise viewing
figures. BBC bosses please take note.
By the time this letter is printed I expect at
least Darren Barker and David Dolan to have
joined Amir Khan on the road to Athens.
A lot of pressure will be on young Khan's
shoulders if he is our only representative.
We can also expect our Olympic champion of
some four years ago to play an ambassadorial
role in amateur boxing once he is prepared to
lead the marketing of major championships.
Audley Harrison's name and his recommendation
will cement and enhance interest
in the unpaid ranks.
But, please, Audley, reflect the glory of
amateur success through your career, as this
will go a long way to winning the minds and
hearts of the British public. - Luke
Anderton, Leamington Spa, Warks.