2008 Olympic Games page 

A total of 22 boxers from 12 countries are represented in the finals of the 2008 Olympic boxing competition after Thailand and Mongolia become the success stories of the semis as both their two boxers win to book a spot in the weekend's finals.

Boxing heavyweights Cuba boast the most number of representatives with four, followed by China three and France, Italy, Mongolia, Russia and Thailand with two apiece.

Pic: France's Khedafi Djelkhir beat Shahin Imranov of Azerbaijan in the second 57kg semifinal

It was an action-packed afternoon and evening right from the opening bout when 2005 world championships bronze medallist Andris Laffita Hernandez snuck a last punch in just before the bell to beat experienced Russian Georgy Balakshin 9:8 in a classic 51kg semifinal winning the first of two Russia v Cuba bouts on the day.

"I followed the game plan without any pressure," Laffita Hernandez said. "It was hard because I was in front of a high quality boxer and usually I lose my temper in situations like this. So my main goal for today was to try to be focused and try not to lose my concentration, and I made it."

Four AIBA World Championship Chicago 2007 medallists immediately followed with the Thailand silver medallist Somjit Jongjohor beating the bronze medallist Vincenzo Picardi (ITA) in the second 51kg semifinal 7:1 before the 57kg silver medallist Vasyl Lomachenko (UKR) continued his excellent form with a 10:1 win over bronze medallist Yakup Kilic of Turkey in bout three.

The other brilliant bouts in the afternoon session saw Athens 64kg defending champion Manus Boonjumnong (THA) take a crucial step towards making it back-to-back Olympic golds by beating Cuba's Pan Am champ Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo 10:5 before another Cuban Pan Am champ in Emilio Correa Bayeaux beat India's first boxing medallist Vijender Kumar 8:5 in the second 75kg semifinal.

Pic: Roniel Iglesias Sotol lands a good blow on Manus Boonjumnong

The afternoon session finished with Russia's Rakhim Chakhkiev breaking a run of four Olympics where Cuba has won the 91kg title. The AIBA World Championship Chicago 2007 silver medallist out boxed Pan Am champ Osmai Acosta Duarte to win 10:5 before 91kg world champion Clemente Russo (ITA) did the same to beat the only American left in the competition Deontay Wilder, giving the US its worst return in the Olympics ahead of its previous worst-ever showing of a single silver medal, set in 1948.

The evening session opened with two-time 48kg world champion Zou Shiming (CHN) keeping Ireland's Paddy Barnes scoreless at 15:0 before Mongolia's 48kg Serdamba Purevdorj pulled off an incredible win, finishing level with Cuba's Yampier Hernandez G at 8:8 before winning on average accepted points 11:9.

His teammate Badar-Uugan Enkhbat then joined in the celebrations by thrashing Moldava's Veaceslav Gojan 15:2

"I'm very happy and proud that two of our boxers could get through to the finals," Mongolia coach Bandi Damdinjav said. "It is a very big honour for us and for all the Mongolian people."

The last bout of the day saw the third and last world champion remaining in the competition Roberto Cammarelle (ITA) convincingly beat Great Britain's big hope in David Price (GBR), stopping him in the second round RSCH.

"Price is tall but it was easy to demolish him," Cammarelle said. "I looked for a sparring partner today - and he was it. The victory is nothing else than another step to the Olympic gold.

"I won in a way I do not really like because I like boxing on a technical level. I prefer winning 20-0 than the way I did today."

Saturday's first day of finals starts at 19:00 with the first 51kg final between Andris Laffita Hernandez (CUB) and Somjit Jongjohor (THA).

Final Statistics:
Total boxers: 22
Total countries represented: 12 (China (III), Cuba (IV), Dominican Republic, France (II), Great Britain, Ireland, Italy (II), Kazakhstan, Mongolia (II), Russia (II), Thailand (II), Ukraine)