LONG READ Relive London 2012

DAY ONE – JULY 28

THE obstacles that have blocked the progress of Anthony Ogogo have been many and varied. In the past the Triple A boxer has engineered crazy wins under unique circumstances, from beating Indian star Vijender Singh in Delhi without landing a scoring blow (two public warnings went in Ogogo’s favour) to Anthony’s miraculous Olympic qualification comeback. Yet he will have to face his most daunting boxing challenge in Ievgen Khytrov.

The Ukrainian middleweight is the World champion, top Olympic seed and favoured to triumph at London 2012.

“I feel like I can beat anybody. It’s going to take a momentous effort. I feel I’ve got it,” said Anthony.

Khytrov enjoyed a bye at the preliminary stage of the tournament at the ExCel while Ogogo had the Dominican Republic’s Junior Castillo to contend with. As Great Britain’s first boxer to compete at London 2012, the Lowestoft man was greeted by a wall of sound as he strode into the arena, a reception like none other in amateur boxing.

But in the first round Ogogo boxed with the burden of that pressure on his shoulders. His feet were working, cornering Castillo, but he stayed tight, tense, not letting his fists loose. Castillo, a southpaw prepared to make life awkward for him, waited for Ogogo, sweeping hooks across his guard. But the Englishman’s left hook struck hard. He flung a one-two before stepping back and, after the first round, had edged ahead.

Castillo put together more combinations, drilling his rear left hand through. Anthony’s nerve held. He looked to counter with his own cross. When that fell short, he drove his lead in. Ogogo doubled his right hand and the crowd played their part too; after the second he had an 8-3 lead.

He harnessed that momentum, lifting his arms to fire up the arena before he went out for the last round. Castillo flew straight forward, linking straight punches, Ogogo edged straight back.

He knew he had it won. But lowering his normally solid defence could have been foolish. It did, however, encourage Castillo to come in. Ogogo looped a left hook up, before slamming in the same shot once again. Junior’s own lead hook shook Anthony but he closed the bout, spinning out of his opponent’s clutches and sending the Dominican slipping to the deck. It ended 13-6 in Ogogo’s favour.

“That was better than I dreamed it was going to be,” Anthony said of the atmosphere. “It lifted me up, brought me up. Just amazing.”

On the day of this bout Anthony’s sister Leanne went into labour and the GB middleweight is now the proud uncle of a baby boy. But trauma in his family life has cast an awful perspective on his participation in the Games. His mother suffered a brain haemorrhage six weeks prior.

“She’s in hospital, still recovering but she’s doing amazingly well. I’m so proud of her. She’s given me strength to get in that ring,” said Ogogo. “If she can come from where she was to now and hopefully get better, I can win the Olympics.”

He can beat Khytrov, but it will require a momentous effort. He’ll have to match the Ukrainian’s frenetic workrate, manoeuvre him cleverly at the same time. Ogogo is the underdog for sure. But one who ought to be full of self-belief. You can count on him, through every second of the work, never to give in.

Two Irish boxers were in action on the first day, with bantamweight John Joe Nevin excelling. His movement, aggression and handspeed confounded Denmark’s Dennis Ceylan. He landed clear jabs and put spite into the right, bobbing his head clear of return fire. Ceylan clipped him with the odd shot but Nevin’s fine judgement of distance prevented anything changing the momentum. The Irishman won 21-6.

“I’m delighted with the performance, getting my country off to a winning start, I’m over the moon,” said Nevin.

“It was brilliant to walk out to such a round of applause. Probably for the first minute or so my legs were a bit shaky. When you’re winning it’s just so exciting to hear them shout every time you land a punch.

“The score looked comfortable but it wasn’t that comfortable. I was taking a few punches. If I don’t perform, anyone can beat me. If I perform, no one can beat me.”

Irish team captain, middleweight Darren O’Neill, maintained the winning run with a 15-6 result over Nigeria’s Muideen Akanji.

“The first round was always going to be cagey,” said Darren. “He was trying to find his distance with me, I’m trying to break him down. The second I was starting to get the distance a bit more. We started working a little bit more downstairs because he was quite tall. I’m a tall middleweight but he’s taller than me.

“Once we got a few shots in, we were able break him down a little bit more. I knew the last round was just a matter of matching him and not giving away too many silly scores.”

After beating Puerto Rico’s Enrique Collazo 18-10, Germany’s Stefan Hartel will box O’Neill in the next stage.

The US team opened their account with two excellent wins. Their 56 kgs Joseph Diaz contested the first bout of the Olympic tournament against his opposite number on Ukraine’s strong team, Pavlo Ishchenko. Diaz was a class act throughout. The American southpaw stabbed his rear left hand over. As Ishchenko offloaded heavy hooks, Diaz worked in combination, his lead uppercut shifting the Ukrainian’s head appreciably.

Ishchenko drove his right through and thumped across a left hook. But Diaz whipped in quality uppercuts with his rear left hand. Neither man was too mobile on his toes but the American hit Pavlo back in the last round, punishment starting to tell. By the end Diaz was bringing him on to his cross, showing power in close and taking it 19-9.

“He was really tough, really strong. I felt his power but I knew my conditioning is very good and I knew that I was going to get him tired and that’s what I ended up doing, picking him apart. I felt like I hurt him and like he was getting more and more tired. I just kept the pressure on him,” reflected Joseph.

“It was my speed. He probably thought I was a little slower than usual. I was picking my left hand because I knew that he was looking for my body shots. Every fight in the Olympic Games is going to be the biggest fight of my life. I just knew I had stay focused.”

On getting the tournament and the Americans off the mark he said, “Giving the whole team USA a boost now. They’re motivated even more. Everybody was already motivated because they wanted to get that medal. They’re going to be ready,” Diaz pledged.

American middleweight Terrell Gausha was up against a genuinely difficult prospect in Andranik Hakobyan, who qualified at the Worlds in Baku, where through being Armenian (and through no fault of his own, I hasten to add) Hakobyan was the most hated man in the stadium.

At once Andranik was jabbing fast, setting up a right hand. Gausha blasted the same shot back and the crowd had warmed to the contest. Long straight punches from Hakobyan kept him off but power shots from the American still bombed through.

If the Armenian needed another warning shot, Terrell dropped another right on his chin at the start of the second round. Hakobyan curled in a left hook to maintain his slender, one-point lead. The American charged him at the start of the last session, dragging Andranik into a firefight. The touches of greater accuracy were from Hakobyan, his left hook ushering in his right hand.

Gausha remained wild but his strength came through when he needed it. His right arched over, cutting a line through Andranik’s jaw, who tumbled to the canvas, his legs loose beneath him. The clock however was running down. Gausha needed to pounce. The left hook he uncorked was the shot, blasting Hakobyan off his feet. The Armenian staggered up, had his balance back with no time left on the counter. But the referee’s job is to look at the boxer’s wellbeing, not the clock. It was a good call from Mik Basi to stop the contest.

“I felt it was a close fight and it was a little bit too close for comfort, so I thought I had to go for it,” said Gausha. “I wanted to leave it all in the ring. I didn’t want to have any excuses. This is definitely a confidence booster but it is just the first fight.”

India’s famed middleweight Vijender Singh hit good form against Kazakhstan’s Danabek Suzhanov. From long range Singh’s right struck. Suzhanov dug out a right uppercut but Vijender slotted his right hook round the Kazakh’s guard.

Danabek cannoned forward, chopping down a series of short shots. The Indian tied him up, before finding his range once again. He snuck in an uppercut then scraped his left hook across. In the third Singh stayed mobile, Duzhanov tracking him. Active, on his toes, Vijender launched a lead left and took the win 14-10.

“He was a good boxer so I am pleased I finally beat him,” said Singh. “I hope London is lucky for me. I got an Olympic bronze last time and hope to do better here.”

Other big guns in action at 75 kgs were Uzbekistan’s former two-weight World champion Abbos Atoev, who outpointed Morocco’s Badr-Eddine Haddioui 11-9 and Turkey’s European silver medallist Adem Kilicci looked sharp defeating Turkmenistan’s Nursahat Pazziyev 14-7.

South London’s young, only 17, Isaac Dogboe came so close to becoming the heart-warming story of day one. Still at school, he took the chance to represent Ghana, making it through the African qualifier to London 2012. To emphasise his role as underdog he had Japan’s towering bantamweight Satoshi Shimizu. Yet plucky Dogboe performed, darting in and out, slinging his fists to Shimizu’s head and keeping his hands up.

He led for the first two rounds but by the last had given so much he simply had nothing left. Satoshi put it on him, nicking it 10-9.

“I could have done better,” Isaac lamented. “I’m very gutted. I’m only 17 and I hope next time I get here it’ll be different. Three years in boxing and I’m at the Olympic level.

“This is a very big achievement. It’s a very big opportunity and it’s a very big thing also to be here, to see the great fighters. I hope one day in the future I’ll be back.”

DAY TWO – JULY 29

DISCRETION, we are often told, is the better part of valour. But for GB’s Fred Evans, on the second day of Olympic competition, that was for another time. He announced himself at London 2012 with daring that bordered on reckless but was, undoubtedly, crowd-pleasing.

The wild nature of the initial assault he unleashed at Algeria’s Ilyas Abbadi was uncharacteristic of the southpaw counter-puncher but sent the packed ExCel arena into a frenzy of applause. Given the Union flags waving in the air, the deep roars of “Freddie, Freddie, Freddie”, it was understandable for Evans to abandon the science of his craft and charge his man.

Fred backed the speed of his hands and threw hard combinations. But the Algerian responded in kind, pumping hooks out from either arm and catching Fred high on the head. That was unsettling to see but it made for a thrilling spectacle.

The Welshman, a 2011 European champion, got on his one-two and found success, his lead southpaw uppercut slanting through. But Fred didn’t exit Abbadi’s range fast enough and Ilyas tagged him back. Gradually Evans’ timing returned to him as he banged in a rear straight left and moved out off the back of it.

Abbadi shifted him to the side with a left hook in the second but with the will of the crowd filling him, Evans wouldn’t let that hurt him. His feet were guiding him forward and back. The Algerian swung at him. Fred’s reaction was fast, ducking it, but it was a sign he was waiting in the pocket.

Before the end of the second round Ilyas tried to bull forward but Fred sensed the openings and had the space to carve out clear connections. He covered in the teeth of Abbadi’s attack, before slashing his hook across. Threat remained in the air around the two.

Fred was still letting too much through. But he was the more hurtful, burying a right hook in Ilyas’ body. The Algerian dabbed back with a straight right to the gut. Evans however harnessed the energy of the crowd, deftly switching his feet for the pleasure of the cheering fans. As time ticked away Evans boxed to his rhythm, adding some swagger and closing out an 18-10 win.

“I was here watching [Anthony Ogogo] but it’s nothing compared to when you’re in there yourself and it’s all for you,” said Fred.

“It was just one big buzz when I was in there, unbelievable. A bit more of a lift. I haven’t experienced anything like that before. Going in there just put me on a high. It builds you up inside.

“I know I started swinging sometimes but that’s just a bit of ring rust. Maybe the crowd getting me going a little bit as well. A bit overexcited. That should sharpen me up for the next fight.”

Fred books a grudge match next with Egidijus Kavaliauskas, the Lithuanian who dumped him out of the World Championships via stoppage last year.

“I’m sharper, I’m stronger,” Fred pledged. “He’s going to see a different Fred Evans. This time I’m looking at medals. I don’t see why any of us [in the GB team] can’t come off with good medals. It’s an unbelievable squad.”

The studied composure of Scottish lightweight Josh Taylor contrasted with Evans. The crowd was as manic for him as they had been for the previous two Britons. (Indeed, whenever Mik Basi and Andrew Caulfield were announced as a British referee or judge, they got an enthusiastic cheer too).

Josh trotted to ring centre, raised his fist to salute the crowd, but kept his mind on the task at hand. It was a hard job too. Brazilian lightweight Robson Conceicao had sparred with Taylor and was known to be terribly tricky.

The Scottish southpaw doubled his jab, ahead of a fine straight left. Conceicao chopped a left hook at him as Josh manoeuvred along the outside. Taylor’s left flashed in again and while the Brazilian was attacking, working, Taylor kept his guard tight. His footwork proved key, taking the edge out of Robson’s shots. Josh had a crucial one-point lead after the first round.

“I thought keep doing what I’m doing but up it a little bit,” the Scot said after.

Taylor took his lead hook to Conceicao’s body but, opening to attack, caught himself on a cross. Josh linked his shots together, bringing up a cheer with those strikes. Robson pressed him back to the ropes. The Scot covered, standing a touch too long, but forged an escape route with another left hand.

In the third Taylor swayed his body back from a wide right. Conceicao needed to force it but Josh tied him up, then put those feet to work leaving Robson running after him. The Brazilian landed a clear uppercut before the bell but Taylor had the contest 13-9, maintaining the British team’s momentum through a major test.

“It’s great for British sport, great for British boxing. I didn’t expect it to be full from day one. It’s really surprising and good, having the home crowd and everyone cheering for us for a change.

“I knew what to expect when I came out. From the sparring I did with him, he did pretty much the same thing, coming forward, a strong fighter. The tactics were just to box, move, stick and move, keep it long. That’s what I did and it worked,” said Josh.

“It was very close but again I thought I won it. I was in control. I wanted to get involved and give the crowd a bit of a thrill but it’s not about that. It’s about going out and winning the fight.”

The Brazilian complained, “I’m really disappointed. It wasn’t a fair result. I boxed really well tonight and I think I scored a lot of points but I didn’t get the win because of course it was in his hometown.

“It’s not fair because I think the judges favoured him because of the crowd and that shouldn’t happen in a competition like this. But I can take some positives from this. I boxed well tonight, so I should be proud of myself.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Josh. Next he boxes Italy’s Domenico Valentino, a former World champion and the third seed in this tournament. But by now Taylor’s confidence is firmly established. “I’ll do exactly the same. Keep it long and box him,” he said.

America kept a winning run going with lightweight Jose Ramirez and welterweight Errol Spence. France’s Rachid Azzedine engaged Ramirez in a warm tear-up. Both planted their feet and let their fists do the work. The Frenchman lobbed his right over the top. Jose stood with him, driving his left hook to the body. Jose was forcing himself on to the front foot. He swallowed a straight one-two but firing right hands to the head ushered Azzedine to a corner.

The right hand that sunk into the Frenchman’s body must have hurt but it prompted a blizzard of punches in return. Rachid was fighting to keep himself in it. For a moment Ramirez edged back, on his jab, but Azzedine placed a right hand and Jose tore back into him. A potent left hook saw Rachid sway away. Ramirez won 21-20, though the margin ought to have been wider.

“You go in a little tense, having a lot of motivation knowing that a lot of people are watching. It tightens your body up a little bit. We’re going to push each other to the top, we’ve a young team but very hungry,” said Ramirez.

“I’m a slow fighter, I tend to break my opponents throughout the rounds and sometimes three rounds is not enough. It could be a disadvantage but I can’t think about it like that. I’m doing Olympic boxing right now, I’m doing three rounds. You’ve got to adjust to this kind of fighting and try to fix all those mistakes. I need to be a faster starter and finish hard.”

The Frenchman felt he had got his tactics wrong. “I was fighting with my heart,” he said. “Not my head.” Be that as it may, the two combined to put on a great show.

The USA’s Errol Spence, 69 kgs, wasn’t fluent against Myke Ribeiro de Carvalho but then the Brazilian, while clumsy, was unpredictable. The latter’s left hooks upset his own balance. In the last round Spence’s southpaw right hook had Myke reeling for a moment. By now Spence was moving stylishly, turning his body smoothly behind a left cross and sealing a 16-10 victory.

“I just believe in myself and I picked up the pace,” said Spence. “It’s always a joy to get the first win. I was a little bit nervous but when I heard the crowd shout, ‘USA’, the butterflies went away.”

Irish welterweight Adam Nolan was uncharacteristically aggressive, advancing and cutting off the space for Ecuador’s Carlos Sanchez. That saw him neglect his advantages in height and reach to get involved up close.

Both were southpaws. Nolan swung his left hard yet his jaw had to withstand some heavy right hooks. To finish the second round they traded blows in ring centre. Nolan hooked his rear hand, turned in an uppercut with that left, and in the last stanza opted to stay at a range that suited him, winning 14-8.

“I was a bit overeager to get the win,” Nolan conceded. “The performances to get me here in the first place have been a lot stronger than that. The main thing was to make sure I’m in the last 16. I made it hard for myself.”

Adam will box Russia’s Andrey Zamkovoy tomorrow (Friday August 3). “He’s high up in the ranks but if I perform like I can perform anything’s possible. I beat a couple of Olympians to get here. There’ll be a lot of pressure on the Russian going into this fight. I’ll just try to throw off the shackles a little bit and try to box with a free spirit and improve on the silly things that were letting me down this evening,” he said.

“The support’s been amazing. It got to me a bit, with the crowd. Every time I landed a shot I could hear the crowd shouting me on.”

Also at 69 kgs France’s Alexis Vastine won a quality exchange with Germany’s Patrick Wojcicki 16-12 and Russia’s Andrey Zamkovoy outpointed China’s Qiong Maimaitituersun 16-11.

At lightweight India’s Jai Bhagwan was too much for the Seychelles’ Andrique Allisop, taking it 18-8, while Turkey’s European champion Fatih Keles beat Abdelkader Chadi from Algeria 15-8.

DAY THREE – JULY 30

THE US boxing team suffered their first loss of London 2012 when Marcus Browne, 81 kgs, succumbed 13-11 to Australia’s Damien Hooper.

Browne, a southpaw, started strongly, engaging from the opening bell. He struck Hooper back with force, leaving Damien blinking with surprise. Feeling he’d taken a lead, Browne circled away, choosing his moments to press an attack. Hooper was missing him for the most part, only applying his right hand and stepping out of range towards the end of the first.

Marcus was subdued in the second round, though Hooper did not raise his activity by much. Browne fired a quick combination as the Aussie closed in but Damien stuck to his loose, long-limbed style, looking to whip shots up from his low-slung hands.

The American was still a point ahead as the third round began. Hooper was determined to make a war of it. His right crashed over and he found a left hook. Browne hooked his lead right and pivoted clear. Hooper leaned forward his arms hanging down, a lovely feint as he slotted a weirdly long right flush in Browne’s face.

Damien took heart and his follow-up assault saw Marcus take a standing count. Headlong he went for Browne, hitting him on to the ropes. Marcus was firing back but momentum was with Hooper. Moments before the final bell he sauntered slowly back, arms aloft as the crowd bellowed his name.

“I thought I would have been a lot sharper. I felt awesome but then again he was a good opponent as well,” said Damien. “I was tricking and feinting and throwing all these punches and I was catching him. I could see it in his eyes and in his body language that he didn’t want to be there.

“I was down a point, so desperate, just a bit of pure aggression. That’s what I did. Deep down inside me and that’s what I showed.”

Browne could only rue the advantage he had let slip. “He was a good fighter but it was definitely a learning experience. I was up early on but couldn’t keep it going,” said Marcus. “I could have used speed more and that’s what the corner told me. More speed, less power.”

Hooper is the bad boy of Australian boxing, by far their best medal hope too. He had been asked to leave their training camp briefly in their preparations for the Olympics. He courted censure from the International Olympic Committee by walking to the ring wearing a T-shirt that displayed the Aboriginal flag. (The IOC forbids athletes from making political statements).

After the bout, Hooper blasted, “I’m Aboriginal, representing my culture and not only my country but all my people as well. I’m very proud. I’m happy I did it. I was just thinking about my family and that’s what matters to me. I’m just saying I’m very proud of what I did.”

The day also displayed the abundance of talent in the flyweight division. Thailand’s Chatchai Butdee looks the complete package. At once he found the measure of Selcuk Eker, taunting the Turk with his lead right but punishing him over and over with the left. He hit high hard or whipped the left to Eker’s body, securing a 24-10 win.

Cuban southpaw Robeisy Ramirez looks a serious threat. He stood his ground, while Katsuaki Susa (Japan) strived to get round his guard. Ramirez selected his moments to strike, fast hands carving out scores for a 19-7 win.

Another southpaw, France’s Nordine Oubaali, beat Afghan Ajmal Faisal 22-9. The USA’s three-time Olympian Rau’shee Warren awaits Oubaali tomorrow (Friday August 3). Mongolia’s Tugstsogt Nyambayar dumped Elvin Mamishzada, Azerbaijan, out of the competition with an 18-11 win.

Kazakhstan’s Ilyas Suleimenov came through a messy scrap with Salomo Ntuve. The 6ft Swede couldn’t keep the aggressor off and Suleimenov lunged through, catching him despite their frequent tangles. The Kazakh won 13-8 and now boxes Britain’s gold medal hope Andrew Selby tomorrow.

DAY FOUR – JULY 31

THE rot set in for the USA boxing team at these Olympics. One of their team captains, Jamel Herring, 64 kgs, fell 19-9 to Daniyar Yeleussinov.

The Kazakh grew in strength throughout the first round, catching Jamel with his southpaw right hook, driving a rear left after it. Herring began to look ragged, he needed to find a surge of energy as he dropped behind on the scoreboard. But Yeleussinov, moving well from his wide stance, found the mark with his long arms, screwing in an uppercut before ducking Herring and cantering clear.

Jamel, a US Marine, was left trotting after him, lobbing a one-two but it proved all to no avail.

“I fought hard,” Herring said. “I know in my heart I did the best I could. A lot of great champions had losses and they came back. Why can’t I? I’m just proud to say I’m an Olympian. I’ll be an Olympian forever.”

Excellent light-welter Roniel Iglesias scored a comprehensive victory over Colombia’s Cesar Villarraga. The Cuban southpaw kept it tight but fired little hooks and uppercuts through to the Colombian’s chin. He let Villarraga come on to him, absorbing shots with his guard and always striking back. Iglesias may have let a few slip through in the last round but was a clear 20-9 winner.

DAY FIVE – AUGUST 1

ONE touch can change everything. If Erislandy Savon had landed one more shot, one more jab, if he had scored one more point, Anthony Joshua, Britain’s great super-heavyweight hope, would have been out of the Olympic Games at the first stage.

Going into only the 40th bout of his career the 22-year-old had come under tremendous pressure against the nephew of three-time Olympic gold medallist, Cuban legend Felix Savon. Joshua simply had to keep his cool, far from easy with the 10,000 packing the ExCel arena bellowing for him. Erislandy is also the most mobile of the competitors in the super-heavyweight division at London 2012, with just the style to give Joshua a nightmarish evening.

Anthony advanced on Savon from the first bell, blasting out a right to open his account. He kept those fists up to shield himself from the Cuban’s fast hands. Erislandy would not stay in range, smoothly chopping down his right and turning in his lead hook to take himself away from Joshua. He mixed up the attack, leading with the right before landing his left.

Though the bigger man, Anthony’s footwork kept him only a few steps behind Savon, covering the space between them promptly. But Erislandy was performing in style, even with the weight of Joshua and the roar of the crowd bearing down on him.

The Briton had his successes and when his booming right caught Savon the impact was unmistakeable. He ducked and rolled out of shots but Erislandy’s relaxed movement remained unaffected. The Cuban fired in a cluster of head shots to make it a nervy wait for the result.

Joshua had it 17-16. It was fortunate – the individual judges’ scores dictated that if it had gone to countback Anthony would not have won. That does show the judges weren’t overly influenced by the home crowd. But the way the scoring system works, taking the three most similar scores for a boxer, then averaging them to produce the boxer’s result, favoured Joshua on this occasion. Computer scoring is not about how each individual judge compares one boxer to the other, in a round or over the contest, it’s solely about how many blows the judge sees landing.

“We were both taking shots,” Anthony said. “The atmosphere, the crowd just kept on pushing me to get that victory. Even though it’s your home crowd, when you’re in there you’re zoned in. It’s different to what you see on the outside. You’ve got to up it and up it. It’s always good to get your confidence up.

“In lower weights sometimes you take a shot and you don’t see it, but in heavyweight you see your head flying all over the place. If you get hurt you’re going to go down. Savon’s a good fighter, he gets his points and moves. You’ve just got to bide your time, not rush in and take another shot. I’ll recap and move on to the next one. The Olympics ain’t finished yet.”

Quality operators are lining up in his weight class. Germany’s Erik Pheiffer couldn’t deal with 6ft 9ins Kazakh Ivan Dychko, losing 14-4. Azerbaijan’s World champion Magomedrasul Medzhidov dispatched the Congo’s overmatched Meji Mwanba in the second round. Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle was in total control of Ecuador’s Ytalo Perea, though a powerful left hook rattled the Italian in the last Cammarelle took it 18-10.

British bantamweight Luke Campbell is normally so assured a performer that it was surprising to see him boxing hesitantly. Italy’s Jahyn Parinello was determined to make life as awkward as possible for the Hull southpaw. If British nerves were jangling after the first round, when they were still level on the scoreboard, Luke finally began to nudge ahead, lashing his left at Parinello when the Italian disengaged. Campbell whipped up a cheer with a one-two. The Italian launched his right hand before ducking in close but Luke had it 11-9.

“Did you see the crowd out there? It would make anyone nervous,” Campbell admitted. “It’s just about trying to keep calm. Now I’ve got the first one out the way I’ll get better throughout the tournament.

“I always told myself I wasn’t going to put pressure on myself and I was going to enjoy the occasion. You can’t get away from the pressure it’s there. I’d tried to keep cool and listen to what the coaches had to tell me. The first one’s always the hardest to get out of the way.”

Ireland’s John Joe Nevin, 56 kgs, maintained the quality of his work against Kanat Abutalipov. The Kazakh stood off at first but Nevin reeled him in, striking from the outside then gliding round the incoming punches, winning 15-10.

It was a day of destruction for the United States’ Olympic dreams. Bantamweight Joseph Diaz had the misfortune of meeting in his second bout Cuba’s world No. 1 Lazaro Alvarez. He closed in on him well pressing hard, though the classy Cuban carved out a 21-15 win.

Their heavyweight and super-heavyweight, Michael Hunter and Dominic Breazeale, were in deep with their Russian counterparts. Hunter performed surprisingly well against Artur Beterbiev, nosing ahead after the first round. But Hunter began to fade in the last, with the Russian cranking up the pressure a notch. Level 10-10, the countback went to Beterbiev, who didn’t look in his typical fearsome form.

Breazeale didn’t have the technical ability to keep up with Magomed Omarov. The Russian southpaw gave him a standing count in the first round. In the second he hammered Breazeale into a corner. Even when caught by a glancing blow, Omarov came back at him. An instant before the final bell Magomed’s cross crashed through to give the American a second standing count but at least Dominic had shown some grit to see out the three rounds.

DAY SIX – AUGUST 2

HOW does Anthony Ogogo do the things that he does? Ievgen Khytrov bore down on him, the World champion looking ominous as he pumped out strikes with robotic power.

The Ukrainian’s piston-punching worked round the GB middleweight’s guard but Anthony stayed clever, taking the edge off some of Khytrov’s shots, moving off him and finding openings for blows of his own. Ievgen steamed forward, giving Ogogo two standing counts in rapid succession in the second round.

Anthony proved his grit, swallowing pain as Khytrov blasted at him and keeping the sense to sneak in his replies. Ogogo had kept in touch on the scoreboard but the wait for the result was even longer than usual, with both standing quietly alongside the referee. The score was 18-18 and on countback they were still locked together 52-52; the judges had to vote for a winner. Referee Jones Kennedy raised Ogogo’s hand and Anthony let out a roar to echo the clamour of the arena around him.

“Very physical, very robust, but I wasn’t hurt at all,” said the Lowestoft man. “People don’t realise I’m quite a determined fighter. I think I surprised people with how robust and how resilient I am and how much stick I can take. There’s no quit in me.”

At the same weight Ireland’s Darren O’Neill succumbed 19-12 to Stefan Hartel. “He’s a very skilful boxer and has a great defence. Very fast, hard to see and to time. He got a good start and did what he needed to do. I’m obviously very disappointed. I have to credit him, he performed well on the day,” said O’Neill. “We’re not finished yet.”

“It was a tough fight. He has power in his fists so I had to be careful all the time,” said the German. “I think I’m not the puncher. They don’t hurt but they make points. The strength of our team is we always have a good defence. That is the basis of the victories.”

Josh Taylor became the first British boxer to be eliminated from the Games, losing at 60 kgs to Domenico Valentino. The Scottish southpaw padded away the former World champion’s shots, doubling his jab to bring in a lovely left hand.

But the highly decorated Italian is an expert. He made it messy for Josh, running in at just the right time, throwing a shot, scoring a point and tying Taylor up. Valentino emerged 15-10 ahead, leaving Josh devastated.

Taylor’s emotional reaction is a sign that he, like the rest of his team had come into this tournament expecting to win. His future is bright and he showed he could match two of the most able competitors in his field. Of course the outstanding lightweight at the Olympics is Vasyl Lomachenko, who eased 15-3 past the Dominican Republic’s Wellington Arias.

American hopes Jose Ramirez and Terrell Gausha fell by the wayside at lightweight and middleweight respectively. Ramirez had a heartening rally in the third round but Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Gaibnazarov had tapped out a lead far too big to be overcome. The Uzbek took it 15-11.

Gausha was surprisingly competitive with Vijender Singh, clearly landing the more hurtful blows.

Singh would cover and let accurate shots go in over the top. The Indian did not match Gausha for power but was canny enough after nicking a one-point lead after the first round to keep in touch on the scoreboard, winning 16-15.

Japan’s 75 kgs Ryota Murata pounded out a 21-12 victory over Abdelmalek Rahou. Uzbekistan’s Abbos Atoev also won a quality encounter with Bogdan Juratoni. The Romanian put together fine combinations but to conclude their exchanges Atoev frequently planted his southpaw left through an opening.

DAY SEVEN – AUGUST 3

IF Fred Evans engaged in some wild gun-slinging in his first contest at London 2012, he was back to cool sharp-shooting in his second bout at the Excel. He stood off Egidijus Kavaliauskas, driving in his southpaw left. The Lithuanian 69 kgs connected with a meaty right, bringing back bad memories of 2011, when he had halted Fred at the World Championships. But Evans rode the punch and took it up a gear, whipping shots in as he increased his output and taking the decision 11-7.

“I was expecting him to come straight at me, so when he stepped off I was a little bit cagey, just trying to see what his plan was,” said Fred. “I knew I had the beating of him. I had to keep focused and then I thought, ‘I’ve got to switch on now and do what I know to do’.”

Fred’s fellow Welshman Andrew Selby had a harder time than expected with Ilyas Suleimenov. GB’s flyweight was hitting, switching and moving but had trouble keeping the rough Kazakh at bay. Suleimenov poured through wildly, keeping on top of Selby though Andrew was always connecting with more. A public warning could not derail the Welshman, who won 19-15.

“Not the best I’ve boxed but I’m always like that in my first bout. I get better as it progresses. But I’m still happy with the win of course,” said Andrew. “In the third that’s when he was really jumping in on me and holding me down. I couldn’t concentrate too much. He was just always in my face.”

Andrew will need to raise his game. Next he has Cuban Robeisy Ramirez, who looked ominously gifted when disposing of Thailand’s Chatchai Butdee 22-10.

Ireland’s Michael Conlan shook Duke Micah, from Ghana, as he manoeuvred round his prey. Conlan advanced 19-8. His countryman Adam Nolan struggled with Russia’s fine welter Andrey Zamkovoy, who turned on the power in the last for an 18-9 victory.

A heavy blow to the American team saw Rau’shee Warren eliminated. He took a clear lead after the first round against Nordine Oubaali and yet, surprisingly for a boxer of his calibre, let it slip. The French southpaw stuck to the task, his right hook catching Warren as the American tried to escape. He repeated his success with that stroke and stayed hungry for the win in the remaining time, finding victory 19-18.

USA welterweight Errol Spence gave India’s Krishnan Vikas a terrible beating and although verdict went against the shocked Spence it was promptly overturned. AIBA’s Competition Jury deemed that Vikas was guilty of holding on nine occasions in the third round alone, as well as spitting out his mouthguard and should have received at least two public warnings; therefore Spence won 15-13.

DAY EIGHT – AUGUST 4

THE captain of Great Britain’s boxing team, light-welterweight Thomas Stalker, took to the field of play against Manoj Kumar. The Liverpudlian had been hoping to improve on his World Championship victory over the Indian but Kumar had another torrid three rounds in store for him.

The English southpaw worked hard, drumming plenty of shots against Kumar’s guard. Manoj kept tight, advancing on Stalker but letting loose only once Thomas’ flurries had finished. Kumar landed clear when he chose his moments but the volume Stalker was putting out brought the scoreboard his way.

By the final round the Briton was endeavouring to defend his lead but he couldn’t entirely escape the clutches of Kumar. Manoj got to him in that round but Stalker had it 20-16.

Stalker’s rivals are massing at 64 kgs. Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk had an absolute war with Swedish toughman Anthony Yigit. In a crazy second round both opted for the manly art of no defence, slugging at one another’s head with a frenzy of hooks. Berinchyk, hard-boiled to the extreme, powered through to a 24-23 result.

Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias overcame Brazil’s Everton Lopes 18-15 in a bout that combined action and sheer quality.

Paddy Barnes, Ireland’s light-flyweight, got his account off the mark, keeping his gloves up and chin tucked down as he stalked Thomas Essomba. Barnes slanted in accurate hooks whenever the Cameroonian opened up, recording a 15-10 win.

Also at 49 kgs China’s Zou Shiming demonstrated his perennial class, handling good Cuban Yosbany Veitia masterfully for a 14-11 win. Also at light-fly Bulgaria’s Aleksandar Aleksandrov, the man who arrested Britain’s Charlie Edwards’ path to the Olympics, scored a 15-14 upset to beat World silver medallist, Korea’s Shin Jonghun.

At light-heavyweight Russia’s Egor Mekhontsev muscled Damien Hooper back. The Australian came back at him bravely but could not salvage his position, going out 19-11. Cuba’s 81 kgs Julio la Cruz confirmed himself as strong gold medal favourite, beautifully frustrating Ihab Almatbouli, the first Jordanian to box at an Olympic Games. La Cruz let punches barely graze him, contorting artfully and landing marvellous counters to win 25-8.

DAY NINE – AUGUST 5

HISTORY was made with women’s boxing being contested for the first time at an Olympic Games. Russian flyweight Elena Savelyeva won the first bout 12-9 over North Korea’s Kim Hye Song.

The USA and Great Britain engaged in a lightweight clash when Queen Underwood tackled Liverpool’s Natasha Jonas. Underwood maintained her aggression throughout, marching forward and catching Jonas with stern right hands. The English southpaw however began to shift the momentum, finding three-punch combinations and swivelling off a lead hook as Jonas opened up the space to move.

“I’ve come here to box first and foremost, anything else is a bonus. To make history, it’s something that no one else can ever take away from me. I’m really proud of myself. I just want to do my country proud,” said Natasha.

Indian sensation Mary Kom has moved up to 51 kgs for the Olympics. Her diminutive form suggested Poland’s Karolina Michalczuk could prevail through brute force alone. But Kom, with outstanding skill, cracked her southpaw right hook across the Pole’s jaw and, even when being driven back, would suddenly lunge her cross through Michalczuk’s guard to fend her off.

Britain and Ireland respectively have guaranteed medallists in Luke Campbell and John Joe Nevin, who both won their bantamweight quarter-finals. Even though Campbell performed well, his bout with Bulgaria’s Detelin Dalakliev became desperately close.

Luke had boxed aggressively and looked in clear control of the first round – yet he went back to his corner a point behind. He took it on in the second but even then had, for the judges, failed to pull ahead. The crowd willed him on in the last and Luke found more yet, lancing home salvoes of punches. The tension of the wait for the result was scarcely bearable but Campbell took it 16-15.

“I dreamed all my life for this, for one moment,” said Luke. “Getting a medal means everything to me.”

Nevin had to deal with Oscar Valdez. The Mexican, scuttling after him, zeroed his left hook on to John Joe’s chin. Nevin stayed on the outside, landing his counters flush. A left, ripped to his body in the last round, saw the Irishman drop but he anxiously pedalled out of further trouble, keeping his 19-13 win.

“He caught me with a cracker of a shot. It wasn’t a low blow, it was a perfect shot,” said the Irishman. “After the first, when it was five-all, I didn’t know what to make of it and I was extremely disappointed going into the second. I should have been up three or four shots.”

Despite the power punches Russia’s Artur Berterbiev knocked through Oleksandr Usyk’s guard, the Ukrainian took their heavyweight collision 17-13. That could decide the fate of the 91 kgs gold medal.

DAY 10 – AUGUST 6

IF women’s boxing needed defending it could find no more eloquent an argument than the fists of Katie Taylor and Natasha Jonas. The crowd at the ExCel should take a bow too. For the first time at London 2012 a group emerged that was even louder than the British boxing fans – Katie Taylor’s simply euphoric Irish support. The decibel level was reported as 113.7, which is technically termed as deafening.

Both boxers rose to the occasion. Katie was on Jonas, hooking punches from either arm. After a slower start Jonas, a southpaw, raised her efforts, staying with Taylor. Natasha found her jab and slung in a rear left hand. Her right hook told again.

But Katie’s technique and speed were superb, her power a factor too. Taylor’s punishing right hand speared through Jonas’ guard. It struck her jaw to stagger her. Jonas took a standing count.

Taylor masterfully sensed openings but Natasha forced the best out of the Irishwoman. The Liverpudlian’s lead hook landed and Natasha sent a cross after it. She flung a left hook into Katie’s body but Taylor drilled her with a right hand, shaking Jonas and giving her a second standing count.

The two embraced after an encounter worth the hype, 26-15 the final score in Taylor’s favour.

“I knew it was going to be such a tough contest. That’s exactly what I got. It’s always going to be difficult to get through,” said Taylor. “I knew I was going to have great support but for it to be so great, it did take me by surprise. It’s a

privilege to be here. I’ll remember this moment all my life. It’s just a dream for me to be here and thank God for a great victory today.

“I think we’re shocking the world here this week. I think people are really opening their eyes to women’s boxing this week. They can’t believe the standard, which is incredible.”

“I couldn’t have done any more. I could possibly have tried throwing the kitchen sink at her but I don’t think that would have stopped her on the day,” said Jonas. “I hope I’ve done women’s boxing proud and I hope Katie goes on to win it. I’ve come here the fittest, the leanest, the smartest boxer that I could be. She is still the best. Hopefully next Olympics in four years in Rio maybe the result will be different. Me and Katie are going to be pioneers for women’s boxing and keep doing the boxing scene proud.”

The British suffered a blow when one of their brightest medal hopes, middleweight Savannah Marshall slumped out of the tournament. No one knows how they might react when walking out in front of 10,000. The Hartlepool boxer looked ill at ease on her way to the ring, though the World champion normally would have been able to deal with the rough Kazakh Marina Volnova. This situation however was a first for Savannah, only just turned 21. The two were level after two rounds and Marshall found herself tangled up in clinches unable to get back to her boxing. She drifted to a 16-12 defeat.

The “Silent Assassin” was bitterly disappointed. Capable of so much more, she just didn’t find her form when she needed it.

GB flyweight Nicola Adams finished with a smile on her face against Bulgaria’s Stoyka Petrova. Nicola let her feet carry her round the ring, dancing an Ali-style shuffle to the delight of the crowd. Throughout Adams had the better of the exchanges, knocking Petrova back with a textbook right hand and finishing 16-7 ahead.

Adams provides GB with another guaranteed medal but she will have a tough semi-final against Mary Kom, with the Indian defeating Tunisia’s Maroua Rahali 15-6.

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” said Nicola. “I felt really good out there. [Kom] is a good opponent, a five-time World champion. When we box I’ll just have that little bit extra.

“We weren’t sure what the atmosphere in the crowd would be like because it’s the first time women have competed, but we’ve been getting the kind of cheers as the men. That’s fantastic.”

On the Jonas-Taylor clash Nicola commented, “It was a superb fight. I reckon that should have been the final. They both deserved a medal there. Natasha, that was the best I’ve seen her box so far, so she’s done her country proud.”

With their male counterparts tumbling out of the tournament, it fell to their female boxers to save the blushes of the American side. By winning her quarter-final against Venezuela’s Karlha Magliocco 24-16, Marlen Esparza has claimed at the least a flyweight bronze for the US. In the semi-final she meets Ren Cancan, who beat Russia’s Elena Savelyeva 12-7.

USA middleweight Claressa Shields had to fight her way out of trouble against tall Swede Anna Laurell. Down two points after the first round, Shields had to turn on the power, clawing her way back into contention. She blasted a left hook into the side of Laurell’s head in the fourth round, her savage follow-up prompting a standing count for Anna. The Swede jabbed her off tentatively but lost 18-14. Shields now meets Volnova in the semi-final.

“That was my first time being in front of a huge crowd with people going for me, people going against me. I got the worst out of me now, I’ll fight better. That girl was a tough opponent, really tall. You’ve got to be a really good short fighter to beat a tall fighter,” said Claressa.

“I have a strong determination not to lose. Growing up I lost so much, I want to be winner. I can’t let nobody control my destiny but me.”

A man who appears to be taking charge of his destiny is Britain’s Anthony Ogogo. After dethroning the first seed, Ievgen Khytrov, the GB middleweight took his confidence into his quarter-final against Stefan Hartel. The German shielded a one-two from Ogogo but Anthony’s left hook found its way round. Hartel sent his jab in but Ogogo responded with one of his own. Linking three punches together, Stefan knocked the Englishman’s head up. Hartel opened up again but Anthony slammed in his right hand and a left hook, driving the German back a few steps.

Hartel had fallen behind. He needed to be more aggressive in the last. Ogogo knew it, slotting his right hook high to the head. He popped in his jab and moved off. Hartel forced Anthony to the ropes but the Briton fired back and finished the bout burying another left hook. The final score saw Ogogo ahead 15-10.

His semi-final place assures Anthony of some form of medal but he noted, “It does feel good but it’s not enough. I’ve always dreamed of becoming Olympic champion not the bronze medallist. I got a medal for the programme, for myself and for my family. I’m going to push on now.”

He added, “Everybody brings their own challenges and brings what they’re good at. He wasn’t as strong as the Ukrainian but he was very strong himself. Didn’t throw as many punches as the Ukrainian but what he did throw he threw with some venom. It was great to get a win over the old enemy, over Germany. I took a bit of pride in that as well.”

Anthony will meet Esquiva Falcao in the semi-final after the Brazilian beat Hungary’s Zoltan Harcsa 14-10. This is a grudge match for Ogogo, whose injury woes began after he lost to Falcao in the 2011 World Championships, which left Anthony in a race against time merely to be fit enough to attempt to qualify for London 2012.

Clever Uzbek Abbos Atoev will also rematch Japan’s Ryota Murata in the other 75 kgs semi-final after the former beat Vijender Singh and the latter beat Turkey’s Adem Kilicci. Both scorelines were 17-13. Murata made his name when he halted Atoev at the Worlds but the Uzbek has looked in wily form at this tournament.

At 91& kgs Zhang Zhilei advanced into the ring stony-faced. China’s 2008 Olympic silver medallist cuts an imposing figure but Great Britain’s super-heavyweight Anthony Joshua dealt with him well. They stood off one another in the first round as the Chinese southpaw tried to lure Joshua in. Zhang padded down Anthony’s jab, preventing him getting shots away but when Zhang tried to rush him, Joshua snapped in sharp left hooks.

In the second, just when Zhang found a combination to threaten Anthony, the Londoner responded ideally, smashing his right hand into his opponent’s jaw and dropping Zhilei heavily. The Chinese pulled himself back up and Joshua shrewdly resisted the urge to charge.

By the third round Zhang was behind but perhaps that touch of power from the Briton had dissuaded the visitor chasing the result too eagerly. Joshua finished 15-11 ahead.

“It knocks your confidence when you get knocked down, so I thought I had him in a position where I had him wrapped up in my web. He’s a counter-puncher, a clever fighter. That’s why there wasn’t too much action, a lot of boxing. I thought he would have come for me [in the third round]. From experience, I’m learning, I had to change and push on to him a bit more,” said Anthony.

“That medal represents the hard work and the journey. It hasn’t stopped here, it’s going to get tougher. I’m going to walk away from these Olympics a new man because the experience is unbelievable.”

In the super-heavyweight semi-final he will meet tremendously tall Kazakh Ivan Dychko, who outpointed Canada’s Simon Kean 20-6. Roberto Cammarelle’s performance dropped off from his first contest at the Olympics. The Italian found himself struggling with Morocco’s Mohammed Arjaoui, prevailing only 12-11.

Magomedrasul Medzhidov will test Cammarelle’s condition in the other 91& kgs semi-final after the Azeri slugged it out with Russia’s Magomed Omarov and won 17-14.

At lightweight Vasyl Lomachenko’s footwork left him constantly pressing Puerto Rico’s Felix Verdejo often without the requirement of throwing a punch. You get the sense the Ukrainian hasn’t let himself off the leash yet but he won well enough, 14-9.

Evaldas Petrauskas became Lithuania’s first Olympic boxing medallist when he beat Domenico Valentino 16-14 in their lightweight quarter-final. The Italian didn’t have the power to keep Petrauskas at bay. The Lithuanian set about Valentino, bombing hooks in upstairs and bursting into tears of joy when the referee raised his hand at the end.

“Since I started boxing at seven this has been my dream,” Evaldas said. “I’m pretty sure the whole of Lithuania is cheering for me.”

QUARTER-FINALS

THE contribution Thomas Stalker has made to the British team cannot be overstated. The project that targeted this Olympic Games has been years in the making. Many saw Stalker’s 2010 victory over the then World champion, Domenico Valentino, as the catalyst for the team’s tremendous medal-winning run that encompassed two European championships as well both the men’s and women’s World championships. Stalker, the captain, laboured at the heart of the effort. If he had won this 64 kgs quarter-final, against Mongolia’s Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg, he would have medalled at every major tournament; the Commonwealth Games, the Europeans (twice), the Worlds and then finally the Olympics.

That final podium eluded him. It made it all the more agonising for his team-mates to see him lose by a single point, agonising for Stalker as well to be unable to take the team across the finish line himself.

But he gave it everything. Knowing he was behind, Stalker poured punches on to Uranchimeg in the last round, finishing bursts of straight shots. Every now and again he left himself open and the Mongolian swung over a hook that jolted the Liverpudlian’s head. Ultimately Uranchimeg hung on to his advantage, winning the bout 23-22.

“My soul is full of emotion,” the Mongolian said. “I have been in the Olympics three times now – Athens, Beijing and now London. It has been my long-standing dream to get a medal, which I have now achieved.”

GB flyweight Andrew Selby had the misfortune of meeting the eventual champion just ahead of the medal stages. Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez stayed cool, arms up in a watertight guard. Selby let his fast hands flail at that defence but his shots weren’t scoring. The Cuban southpaw let him work, before firing blows straight through on him, triumphing 16-11 in a hugely impressive performance.

“I was throwing combinations, getting my shots off. My trainer was telling me to put my hands up after I finished a combination but he was just getting me before I could get my hands up. He was a very clever boxer,” said Andrew, the World silver medallist and European champion.

“I could have boxed more and not got involved. I was staying on the ropes. To the judges it looks like he’s picking off more than me. I just needed to get off the ropes now again. He wasn’t so much fast, he was just clever. He knew when to hit me at the right time and he was very strong. I couldn’t have asked for a better year last year. I wanted to top it off with getting a medal. It just wasn’t my time.”

Fred Evans dominated the first round of his quarter-final against Custio Clayton to such an extent that it looked like their 69 kgs quarter-final would become a question of whether Evans would stop the Canadian. But the scoring of the second round crept up for Clayton and Fred was far too lax in the third and final round. Level 14-14, it went to a countback, that should never have been required, but luckily for the Welshman the final outcome was in his favour. “I always thought I was ahead. It was nerve-racking,” Fred admitted of waiting for the result.

He had watched Selby’s bout while warming up and said, “I was gutted for him. I’d love to have him beside me. Obviously it knocks the spirit down a little bit seeing a teammate who you’ve known for years, I know how much he wanted it.”

Errol Spence, reinstated after an unfair loss, was America’s last hope for a medal from their men’s team. But he could not outpoint Russia’s Andrey Zamkovoy, losing 16-11.

“I started a little bit slow. I could have started a little bit faster than what I did. Overall he’s a good fighter. We’re kind of familiar with each other because we fought in March. Overall he’s a good strong fighter. He was just the better man today. It took me a while to figure him out. Usually I start real slow to feel my opponents out but today it hurt me.

“I was real disappointed I left the tournament the way I did when I fought the Indian boxer. But to have a guy being better than me, that’s not a disappointment. I’d rather go out like that than how I did against the Indian boxer,” said Spence.

He also explained the flaws in America’s amateur boxing system lucidly, “We need more international fights early. We can’t rush into things like we did and we need the coaches earlier than we did and have a load of professional boxers, who leave the amateur system, come back in and help out. They have a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge that they can give to us. That would help us in 2016.

“A lot of fighters that’s here [in London], they’re used to each other, they know each other. You see them shaking hands, talking to each other, they’re familiar with each other because they know each other.

“Fighting an international fighter is always unusual because of the awkward style that they have and that made me start out a little bit late like I have been doing this tournament. I’ll take nothing from him, he fought a good fight.”

Irish 49 kgs Paddy Barnes rediscovered his best form against India’s Devendro Singh Laishram. The Indian has fast hands, is a nifty mover but Barnes advanced on him with menace, gloves up, chin tucked down and lanced straight, far-reaching shots across Laishram’s chin. A composed performance brought Paddy a 23-18 victory.

“Even qualifying for the Olympics was a dream come true,” said the Irishman, a veteran of the Beijing Games, “but now I’ve got two medals. I’m over the moon.”

Michael Conlan, 52 kgs, took on France’s Nordine Oubaali in an all-southpaw clash. The Frenchman forced Conlan along the outer fringes of the ring, chopping his rear left hook in. The Irishman kept himself in touch, finally managing to hurt Oubaali with a right hook in the third round. He dug out a handful of big shots just before the bell, which may have sealed it, 22-18.

Alexis Vastine was left outraged after his 18-18 draw with the Ukraine’s 69 kgs Taras Shelestyuk went against him on countback.

Brazil’s Yamaguchi Falcao, brother of their 75 kgs Esquiva, shocked 81 kgs World champion, Cuba’s Julio la Cruz, 18-15 in their quarter-final.

Gabriel Maestre, Venezuela’s welterweight, managed to rock Serik Sapiyev in the second round of their quarter-final but the Kazakh master was not going to be denied, making sure of a 20-9 win.

SEMI-FINALS

ANTHONY Joshua, all 6ft 6ins of him, looked small against the tournament’s tallest boxer in the 6ft 8 1/2ins Ivan Dychko, but outboxed him for a 13-11 win and a place in the final, writes Daniel Herbert.

The scoring didn’t flatter the GB super-heavyweight. Jabbing well and forcing Dychko back, Joshua looked to have won the first – but it ended 4-4. It was still level after round two at 8-8, even though Joshua boxed cleverly behind his high guard as the Kazakh tried his lone danger shot, a long right cross.

Joshua put things beyond any doubt with a dominant last, pumping out the jab as Dychko tired and needed his bloody nose wiped twice.

An all-southpaw welterweight semi saw Fred Evans pull off the biggest win of his career, 11-10 over World champion Taras Shelestyuk. A Ukrainian appeal against the decision was rejected.

As in his previous Games bouts, Evans started well but this time he did not fade as before. For six minutes the Welshman moved nimbly and punched sharply to earn a three-point lead coming up for the last. Evans opened up with a good burst early on but although Shelestyuk did narrow the gap, at the final bell Evans was a narrow but worthy winner.

“My gameplan was exact. I started off to try to get the points up early then went back to what I do best, counter-punch him. I just carried it on for the full three rounds,” said Fred. “He started to open up more, swing a bit more, coming into my hands a little bit more. It was just a good fight for me.”

For once Luke Campbell faced an opponent taller than himself in Satoshi Shimizu, but the GB bantamweight showed the gulf in class as he took a 20-11 victory to reach the final.

Round-by-round scores of 5-2, 6-4 and 9-5 testified to the control exercised by the Hull stylist, who constantly beat Shimizu to the punch. The Japanese advanced throughout but was flatfooted and left gaps in his defences that Luke found little trouble piercing with crisp shots.

The Olympic adventure of Anthony Ogogo, which included eliminating the No. 1 seed Ievgen Khytrov, ended at the last four stage when Esquiva Falcao beat him 16-9. After an even first (3-3) the Brazilian southpaw got on top in round two (6-3) then really let the punches go in the last. Ogogo walked onto a crunching left that floored him then had to take a standing count after a barrage. Knowing he must have fallen well behind, the Lowestoft man went on the offensive but Esquiva Falcao was now able to back off and hold in a bid to preserve his lead.

“It’s not the one I wanted,” Ogogo said of his bronze medal. “It’s more about what the medal represents to me personally. The ordeals I’ve had to overcome, the adversity I’ve faced to get the medal. It means more to me than just a bronze medal. I’m disappointed. The German [Stefan Hartel] I beat in the previous round, he beat the Brazilian really convincingly two months ago.

“I had a tough draw, two tough bouts [against Khytrov and Hartel]. The Dominican [Junior Castillo] was a tough one for me mentally, being the first boxer in here. It drained my energy levels.

“All I want to do now is go home, be a good son to my mum, be a good brother to my sisters, be a good boyfriend to my girlfriend and absorb it. Let the dust settle and make a nice clear judgement on what I want to do with the rest of my life. It feels a bit odd because since I was 12 I always thought about becoming an Olympic champion and I’ve given everything. I fell short. I want to be the best in the world and it hasn’t happened here – I’m third or fourth best in the world.”

Irish bantamweight John Joe Nevin joined Campbell in the final by sensationally defeating World champion Lazaro Alvarez of Cuba 19-14. It was a tactical masterclass by the Irishman. Nevin backed off and moved around the ring, forcing Alvarez, a southpaw, to advance – something he clearly didn’t like doing. And John Joe used his faster hands to nail the taller Cuban with rights and left hooks.

Nevin led 5-3 after one, then 12-9 after the second round, when a left hook made Alvarez put a hand on the deck only for the referee to give no count. By the last Alvarez had run out of ideas as Nevin continued to beat him to the punch.

“I always said I am up there with the best in the world,” said John Joe. “I am getting better as I go along. I just believed I could beat the best in the world.”

The other Ireland v Cuba semi-final, at flyweight, went the way of the Caribbean island nation with Robeisy Ramirez proving too good for Michael Conlan.

Southpaw Ramirez showed fast hands and Conlan, who started as a portsider but later switched to orthodox and back, was too passive in the early going.

Leading 10-6 into the last, Ramirez upped the tempo to force a count on Conlan with a barrage and eventually run out a comfortable 20-10 victor. “He didn’t punch so hard. He was just sharp with his attacks. I was using a lot of energy as well.

“I threw a load of punches but I was just wasting them. They were hitting his gloves. I should have been waiting for my opportunities. I was just a bit eager. I really wanted to do well, as it’s my first Olympics,” Conlan reflected. “It’s tough. It’s a good experience. He threw some good shots and he always caught me clean. I hoped for gold but bronze will have to do.”

Irishman Paddy Barnes must be sick of the sight of Zou Shiming. When they met in the 48 kgs semi-finals four years ago in Beijing, Paddy was not credited with a single point compared to the 15 of the Chinese (who went on to win gold).

This time, in the new 49 kgs category, Barnes matched Zou at 15-15 only to lose on countback against an opponent who would once again win the Olympic title.

Mobile, switch-hitting Zou opened an 8-5 lead in the first but in round two Barnes began to get inside, where the Chinese would tie him up.

Trailing 11-8 coming up for the last, Paddy got stuck right in and pounded the body ferociously as Zou tried to run down the clock. But while the Belfastman levelled matters at 15-15, the countback went to Zou.

“A slow start,” rued Paddy. “I didn’t think he scored eight points in the first round. That cost me the fight. I thought I won the third by more than he won the first by. I could have won that fight. I gave it my all.

“Zou Shiming’s so good, he makes boxers look bad. That’s why he’s two-times Olympic champion. I came for a gold medal. I was so, so close.”

WOMEN’S FINALS

IT wasn’t only Nicola Adams’ smile that shone through the boxing tournament at London 2012. The Leeds flyweight was simply imperious, barely putting wrong one of her dancing feet as she advanced to become the first female Olympic gold medallist.

She floated into the ExCel arena with a beaming grin as if the 10,000 in attendance, clamouring for Britain, had thrown her a surprise party. She brought the same exhilaration to the ring, as though the three-time World champion facing her in the 51 kgs final, China’s Ren Cancan, who had beaten Adams twice before in World finals, posed her no threat. The way Nicola boxed her swiftly proved that to be the case.

“I thought it was going to be a bit closer but I was just so determined to win today. I was so determined I just wasn’t going to let her win. I just couldn’t. My mind was set on winning,” said Adams.

Ren started out trying to work but could get little through. Nicola’s right hand was the telling shot. She landed her cross as she went after Ren. Her jab was clean and Adams led with the right before scoring with her left once again. The Briton finished their exchanges and in the second round tipped Cancan up with her left hook before slamming her right through to blast the Chinese down to the canvas.

After the standing count Ren flapped hooks at her but Nicola’s clear jab struck once more. By the third round Adams’ fluent movement round the ring left Cancan looking flat-footed. She pounded out a 16-7 result over the four-twos, a victory that had never looked in doubt. Nicola even managed to squeeze in her Ali shuffle before the end.

“I think it’s a Nikki shuffle now,” she laughed. “I’ve worked my whole life for this moment and to think that it’s finally here, it’s a dream come true for me.

“Now the time has come and it’s finally here and what better place to showcase women’s boxing. I think it’s fantastic. I can’t believe the support that we’ve had and I think it’s really great the way that Great Britain has got behind women’s boxing.

“It’s been an amazing atmosphere, it’s done the world for women’s boxing. I couldn’t believe the support and it was just giving me the energy and the boost to throw more punches.

”I stuck to the tactics that the coaches gave me and I’ve worked hard since China [and the World Championships]. I’ve really stuck to my training and stuck to the things that me and the coaches have been working on and it’s paid off. Just having the belief in myself that I could do it.”

In just the same way Adams was an emphatic victor over Mery Kom. The brilliant Indian, a five-time World champion, albeit at lower weights, was not able to extend the local heroine in the semi-final. Kom had counter-punched expertly against the weight of larger opponents in her previous bouts in this tournament. The Englishwoman though didn’t give her that option.

A jab knocked Mery back, a right hand jolted her head. The Indian southpaw tapped back her lead right hook but Adams had the first round lead. The Briton sealed it at the start of the second, thumping out three straight punches. They met punch for punch in the third but Kom had to step back, her balance off. Her exuberant Ali shuffle done, Adams had it 11-6.

“I’m happy of course,” Kom said of her bronze medal. “Today I gave my best but that points difference was not good. The last two rounds I was scoring clear punches. I know this is her home crowd. In Olympic qualifying I lost by only two points.”

Adams beat five-time and three-time World champions on her path to the top of the podium and, most impressively, neither of them could touch her. The boxer of the tournament for me.

Ireland’s Katie Taylor won the prize for best female boxer at the Olympics and her list of now near endless accomplishments makes her, unquestionably, the pound-for-pound ruler of the women’s sport. If Adams believed the gold medal belonged to her, so the rapturous Irish supporters, who packed out the arena, willed Taylor to this final finish at the top of the women’s 60 kgs podium.

“To be considered one of the greatest female boxers in the world is a huge privilege,” said Taylor. “It’s a privilege to be here in this position and hopefully I am a role model. I hope some girls watching on TV, aspiring to be an Olympic champion or medallist, see this is what they have to look forward to.”

But Sofya Ochigava had trouble in store for the world number one. The Russian hadn’t come to play a role in Katie’s coronation – she’d come to win. Taylor rushed while Ochigava stayed clever. She struck with her lead right hook, landed a rear left to nose ahead after the second round.

But Taylor delivered in the third, letting her right hand fly, firing in her left hook. The Irish woman turned the bout in those two minutes. The fourth stayed close, Ochigava hooking in her rear left hand, while Katie charged in close. The final score was 10-8 in Taylor’s favour.

With women’s boxing included in the Olympics for the first time in 2012, there now isn’t a major tournament the Irish woman hasn’t won. “This is what I’ve always dreamed of. It’s a dream come true. It’s such a relief to have this gold medal around my neck. I think the pressure you put on yourself, that’s the only pressure that counts really,” said Katie, who had beaten Tajikistan’s Mavzuna Chorieva 17-9 in the semi-final.

“We just approached this competition like any other. The only difference was the crowd was so intense, unbelievable. For any Irish boxer, it was like a home Games for us. The first time I boxed, against Natasha Jonas, there were more Irish people there than English. It was an amazing atmosphere.”

“I was never concerned in the contest,” said her father and coach, Peter Taylor. “When we went a point down, I just knew it was her destiny to be an Olympic champion.”

“I know she’s very disappointed. She’s a great boxer and a great competitor,” Katie said of silver medallist Ochigava. “I knew it was going to be such a tough fight. I knew I had to stay calm. Everything worked out great in the end.”

America should be grateful to Claressa Shields. While the men’s team crashed out of London 2012 without a medal, a 17-year-old from Flint, Michigan restored some lustre to USA amateur boxing. Like Katie Taylor, Shields showed that the female boxers at this tournament aren’t solely about speed and skill – they can hit when they need to.

Claressa took a round to get to grips with Russia’s taller Nadezhda Torlopova in the 75 kgs final. Once she closed in, Shields could work happily, slugging shots over the Russian’s arms and making Torlopova look ungainly, ultimately banging out a 19-12 triumph.

“I always wanted to get a medal. I just kept walking towards it. People were saying I couldn’t do it, that I am too young. They said girls with better experience would beat me. I feel the USA needs it. I am glad that someone won a gold medal. We all worked hard together. I represent myself and them in the ring,” said Claressa.

“I knew she was going to step up and I was going to see how far she had stepped up. She felt she was stronger than me. When I showed her I had a little bit of strength she stepped off. I stayed away from her right, that’s her bread and butter. I was faster. I wasn’t stronger than her though. I made that fight a little bit harder for myself. I fight with guys bigger than me all the time. She had awkward timing.”

Considering her age, Claressa could be a multiple Olympian. Shields is the jewel of American amateur boxing at the moment but a lack of funding, not to mention pressures a teenager should not be under, could force her to leave the Olympic sport behind.

“2016 is sounding pretty good right now. I just don’t know,” she said. “Me and my coach have got to sit down and talk about it. I’ve got a family to feed. I’ve got a little brother, a little sister, my mom, my dad, my brother out of prison. I want to try to look out for them so we’ll see how everything goes.”

In the semi-final Kazakhstan’s Marina Volnova wanted to stand and fight; Shields was happy to oblige. This kind of warfare suited her more than the mobility preferred of European boxers and Claressa appeared to relax into the tournament.

When Volnova rushed in, looking to keep busy, the American fired back. Claressa’s fists flew faster and harder than the Kazakh’s. Shields’ right smashed over to give Marina a standing count in the third round. Exhilarated, Claressa pressed her harder. A one-two from Volnova did not dissuade her and the American blasted her way out of a corner.

A left hook shook the Kazakh and in the fourth round another right hand gave Volnova a second standing count. Shields brought up her hooks and Marina had run out of ideas, simply trying to force her way forward. The final score was an emphatic 29-15 to the US boxer.

“She didn’t respect me when I was moving so I turned it into a fun game and I started banging with her and I got the best of it. I was able to pick my shots and we were just having a fight. It was fun though,” said Shields. “That’s just natural for me. I love fighting. If a girl’s going to stand in front of me, why not hit her?”

The bronze medal Marlen Esparza takes back to the States ensured that this USA team actually exceeded their 2008 medal haul, although neither of their two podium finishes came from the men.

In the semi-final Ren Cancan condemned the American to a 10-8 defeat. The Chinese southpaw backed off hooking, using her rear left hand to set up a lead right hook. Esparza grew more accustomed to her as the bout progressed, attacking intelligently in a level last round. “It’s hard with someone that constantly pulls back,” said Marlen. “She was frustrated because I wasn’t coming forward so and I thought I did everything that I could do.”

MEN’S FINALS

THE wait was long. Anthony Joshua stood in the centre of the ring, raising his fist with surprising confidence, despite the uncertain outcome of the Olympic super-heavyweight final. The crowd, normally so deafening, waited in comparative silence, longing for the emergence of a new British heavyweight star.

But Roberto Cammarelle, the reigning champion, had shown all his guile in the first two rounds. Picking openings in Joshua’s defence, he expertly stole points at the end of the opening round. Joshua had begun well. He stayed on the outside, kept his feet moving and forced the Italian, a southpaw counter-puncher in style, to come to him. Anthony’s right hand struggled to find its mark but his left jab was key. The long range-finder harried Cammarelle while the Italian tried to draw Joshua and dart his own right lead over the top. Finally he stalked Anthony into a corner. The right hook struck, the weight of it turning Joshua’s head. That broke his defence momentarily and Cammarelle fired more into the target.

The Italian great was a point ahead after the first round, not necessarily an insurmountable lead. Joshua had rallied from here before. In last year’s World Championships the Briton had come back from a similar deficit to record his breakthrough win. But Cammarelle had learned his lesson from that too. In the second round, Joshua ducked a shot but Roberto hooked his left up, finding him. The Italian continued to open paths for his lead right to land. He nudged Joshua towards a corner again, marshalling their movement across the canvas.

All of a sudden the Londoner was three points adrift, a desperately wide gap to cover with only one round remaining. Joshua forced himself in, driving with his legs, dredging up punches, straining against the Italian. Cammarelle looked to tie him up. Anthony stuck to the task and hammered heavy shots down the middle but he was striving against the tide of the Italian’s experience and the scoreboard running against him. He opened up on Roberto, with the crowd roaring in his ears, but the Italian knew when to smother him. By the final bell it was impossible to tell whether he had won the last round conclusively enough to turn the result his way.

So the wait was long. The judges had them level at 18-18 initially. It went to countback, going to Joshua 56-53.

“In the third round it got tough. I just won’t ever give up in there. I keep on pushing till the last bell,” he said. “My legs and everything were killing me. Sometimes I wanted to stop but my mind was working and my arms were just flying around.”

The close nature of the final shows Joshua is still a work in progress. But a super-heavyweight, just 22 and with only 43 bouts to his name, who’s boxed for a mere four years, has tremendous upside potential. Joshua did say he wanted to stay amateur as long as possible.

“I need more experience,” he explained. “Sometimes when I box it’s hard against more experienced fighters. I want to dominate everyone in the amateurs. Become a World champion, become European champion. I’d really love to do that. I’m learning at each tournament so the more tournaments I go to the more I’ll improve as a fighter.” But this personable, English speaking heavyweight, with punch power and an Olympic gold medal round his neck is now the hottest property in the sport.

Luke Campbell brought his best performance to the biggest occasion, the 56 kgs Olympic final. The Englishman had said before the tournament he’d like to meet John Joe Nevin on the last day, a fate he may have begun to dread after seeing the Irishman’s form through each stage of the competition.

But the southpaw from Hull got himself in the ascendancy in the bout’s opening minute, so crucial in amateur boxing and a skill at which Campbell is the consummate artist.

He let his punches run through the air, these not scoring but smoothly covering the space between them. His cross lanced in, while Nevin sent a right hook to the body. Luke’s jab orchestrated the bout, not damaging John Joe but scoring touches throughout. Nevin had worked brilliantly off the outside prior to this but Campbell’s nerve held. He lured the man from Mullingar into coming to him.

“The plan was to draw him in because if he’d have got on his backfoot, that’s what suits him best. So I needed to take that away from him,” said Luke.

It was technical duel, high speed, the two thinking all the time. Nevin flung in a sudden right hand towards the end of the second round but in the last Luke dug his right hook across John Joe’s jaw, dropping him. The Irishman was unhurt but took a standing count nevertheless. “After that I just had to carry on with what I was doing, not being silly,” said Campbell. “I wasn’t looking for the stoppage whatsoever. He’s a class fighter, very tough, he’s strong himself. My plan was just to flow, let the punches go, move side to side and listen to my coaches.”

He saw out the contest, in response to a cross catching Nevin with his left hook, dabbing a straight left back to answer the Irishman’s right. At the bell Luke thrust both arms in the air. He knew he had it. 14-11 was the final score in Campbell’s favour. When referee Jones Kennedy raised his fist to confirm the win, fresh tears gleamed in Luke’s eyes.

“I wanted to get this gold medal for me, for all the hard work I’ve put in, for my family to be proud, for Great Britain to be proud. For me to represent them I just wanted the gold medal,” said Luke. “It’s a very close team. We train together, we live together, we travel the world together and each and every one of us wants each other to succeed and do the best we can.

“We all push each other on. We’re there to help each other. We’re all there to support each other and that goes a long way.”

Nevin was desperate for victory himself and the Irish team, with his silver, Katie Taylor’s gold and two bronze medals has had a great Games. “I’m heart broken now,” said the Irishman. “I wanted to join the club with Katie Taylor and [1992 gold medallist] Michael Carruth but if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. Luke is a tremendous boxer, a tremendous boxer. I can take nothing away from him.”

Welterweight Fred Evans could not join his countrymen on top of the podium but his silver medal is the mark of a fine tournament. Serik Sapiyev, a southpaw like Fred, boxed in full possession of his sporting intelligence and skill through every minute of their bout. The Kazakh’s hands moved fast, worrying the Welshman’s guard constantly. When Fred looked to counter he found Sapiyev’s combinations drilling through.

Evans was stuck manoeuvring round the outside of those punches. His abilities were evident in the slick movement of his feet and the slipping and sliding of his head, but Sapiyev had forced him onto the defensive and the Kazakh kept him there. By the last round Fred was caught in a dilemma: go hell for leather, as he had done in previous bouts, and risk leaving himself vulnerable to an even greater volume of shots; or attempt to box his way out of trouble. He tried pivoting off his lead right hook and bowling his left over the top but couldn’t make an impact, bowing out 17-9.

“I had four hard fights before, my body’s feeling a bit drained,” said Fred. “I didn’t stick to my game plan. Then when he pulled away å å with a few it’s hard to come back against a top, experienced fighter like he is. He was really on form. I think anyone in with him today would have found it difficult to beat him. My game plan was to start off fast, pick up points so he had to come to me. Obviously he got ahead first. I was trying to keep my guard tight and counter him and put him under pressure a little bit more. I knew if I come in there swinging, he’s just going to pick me off more again. I’d fall into his hands then. I felt like I caught him with a few good shots.”

Sapiyev’s efforts throughout the Olympic fortnight brought him the Val Barker trophy for best boxer.

With the three gold medals from Campbell, Joshua and Nicola Adams, Evans’ silver and Anthony Ogogo’s bronze, Great Britain topped the boxing medal table, ahead of powerhouses like Cuba, Ukraine and Russia, with GB boxing’s best Olympic results since 1920, the most golds since 1908 (when every medallist bar one was British) and, given the development of the modern sport, this Olympic team can fairly claim to be the best in British boxing history.

Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias looked sensational winning light-welterweight gold. Denys Berinchyk barrelled into him but Iglesias ripped open his defences with his southpaw combinations. Gradually Roniel turned on the power, remarkably forcing the iron-willed Ukrainian into backwards steps and winning 22-15. Iglesias’ countryman, flyweight Robeisy Ramirez didn’t look as incredible as he had earlier in the competition but, only 18 years of age, saw off Mongolia’s Tugstsogt Nyambayar 17-14 to win gold.

Korea’s Han Soonchul could do nothing to hold off great lightweight Vasyl Lomachenko. The Ukrainian’s footwork brought him easily round Han’s jab and Vasyl fired in his southpaw left, leaving no doubt about the outcome, which he sealed 19-9.

Italy’s Clemente Russo’s style involves mauling opponents and sneaking in his points. That may have brought him to the final but Oleksandr Usyk, another Ukrainian, made sure of a 14-11 win.

China’s Zou Shiming grabbed a lead and found ways to thwart Kaeo Pongprayoon’s efforts to box. Zou ran into holds, pushed the Thai back and though the referee, Yasar Cinar, gave Shiming a public warning in the last round, the referee promptly gave Pongrayoon a similar penalty. The crowd voiced their displeasure at Zou’s 13-10 win but nevertheless the Chinese light-fly is now a two-time Olympic champion.

It went to the wire but Egor Mekhontcev, at 81 kgs, secured Russia’s only gold medal in this tournament, beating Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov on countback after the two were tied 15-15.

Middleweight Ryota Murata became Japan’s first Olympic gold medallist in 48 years after he beat Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao 14-13. “I have stamina towards the end,” said Murata. “I just have a little bit more ability and put in a bit more effort than other boxers. I am proud of achieving my goal. I think it is a miracle for a Japanese boxer to win, but I thought I could do it.”