Olympics Boxing: The verdict on Team GB's best hopes

SportNeverSleeps.com
28 July 2012

Going for gold - Luke Campbell

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With three World Championship silver medallists in Team GB's Olympic squad, expectations are high in the medal pursuit. The guys at Abelson Info discuss some of our main contenders...

"Luke has a serious chance of getting a medal at these games and I would be tempted to tip him for the gold."

Andrew Selby (23) - Flyweight

A strong contender for a medal, Andrew should have a good Olympics but will have to overcome a competitive division in order to do so. He has had several wins at this weight and won silver at the World Championships last year, losing to Russia's Misha Aloyan. It will certainly be a close race for the medals but between Selby, Aloyan and USA's Rau'shee Warren, the flyweight division is defiantly one to keep an eye on.
Prediction: Silver medal

Luke Campbell (24) - Bantamweight

Luke has a serious chance of getting a medal at these games and I would be tempted to tip him for the gold. He is an extremely competent fighter who moves well around the ring with an aggressive counter. His style has bought him many fans and he will be hoping to go one better than his silver medal in the World Championships last year, when he lost to the talented Lazaro Alverez of Cuba.
Prediction: Gold medal

Josh Taylor (21) - Lightweight

Josh is the first Scottish lightweight to represent Great Britain at the Olympics since 1960. He s a very inexperienced southpaw fighter, but always gives 100% in the ring. Josh prides himself on his hard work and determination. In 2011 he joined the Great Britain boxing set up and competed at both the European and World Championships. The Olympics will be no more than further big competition experience for Josh.
Prediction: Early Round

Tom Stalker (28) - Light Welterweight

Tom is ranked number one in the world in his weight division and it is time for him to stand up and be counted. He is a very rigid boxer with a strong jab but never seems to set the ring alight. He's won in the past, taking two European silver medals and Commonwealth gold, but will need to find something extra in his locker to overcome the challenge of Denis Berinchyk and Everton Lopes. A very effective fighter, Tomwill have to create some magic to get a medal.
Prediction: Quarter Finals

Freddie Evans (21) - Welterweight

Freddie is a smooth and quick fighter with huge potential. He has already won gold at the Commonwealth Boxing Championships in 2010 and at the European Championships. He is likely to improve with age and the signs show that he will make a very competent professional. Unfortunately, he is in a strong division and will have to be at the top of his game to reach the medal places.
Prediction: Quarter Finals.

Anthony Ogogo (23) - Middleweight

Anthony Ogogo is no stranger to the limelight. The former Big Brother contestant will look to finish higher than his 4th place in BB, but it isn't going to be an easy ride. He's been fighting a shoulder injury most of this year and only just recovered in time to pursue his Olympic dream. He faces strong competition from Evhen Khytrov of Ukraine and Ryoto Murata of Japan in his Middleweight division.
Prediction: Quarter Finals.

Anthony Joshua (22) - Super Heavyweight

Many have tipped Anthony to be Team GB's best chance of a gold medal in London this year. In front of a home crowd he should place in the medals and hopefully go one better than he did in the World Championships in Azerbaijan. To do so he will have to beat Magomed Medzhidov, who he narrowly lost to by a point in the final. Anthony is a natural athlete and an exciting boxer to watch. He's gutsy but needs to be careful not to be drawn into a brawl - that could prove to be his downfall.
Prediction: Silver medal.