Tags:
Journalism of Courage
HOUSTON, AUG 28: American Michael Simms Jr. won a close decision over John Dovi of France for the light-heavyweight gold medal last night, giving the United States an unprecedented fourth gold medal in the World Amateur Boxing Championships.
The United States won three gold medals in each of the 1982 and 1986 world championships. The four gold medals doubled the totals of Cuba, Uzbekistan and Romania.
Ricardo Juarez kept his hometown fans cheering with a solid victory over Tulkunbay Turgunov of Uzbekistan and then toured the ring waving an American flag after winning the featherweight gold medal in the night8217;s second fight.
Simms, the American champion, followed with a dull four rounds against Dovi that ended even on points with Simms getting the title with a 33-26 margin on punches.
Heavyweight Michael Bennett and light-flyweight Brian Viloria won titles in Thursday night8217;s programme.
Simms completed a dramatic turnaround for the American team, which did not get past the second round in the 1997World Championships at Budapest, Hungary.
Simms and Dovi drew scattered boos when they finished a very inactive first round with neither fighter taking charge. The trend continued throughout the fight.
Juarez established control of the match from the start and got stronger as the rounds continued. He started landing combinations in the second round, had a solid third and had Turgunov hanging on in the final round.
Several strong uppercuts jarred Turgunov.
Bulat Jumadilov of Kazakhstan, the 1996 Olympic silver medallist, won the evening8217;s first bout, taking the flyweight gold medal with a 6-4 victory over Omar Narvaez of Argentina.
Mahammat Abdullaev of Uzbekistan won the light-welterweight championship, outpointing Willy Blain of France, 11-6.
In the super-heavyweight final, Siren Samil of Turkey rallied in the final two rounds to beat Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov of Kazakhstan. They finished even on points but Samil won 26-16 on punches.
The tournament went through its final night without the Cubanteam, which withdrew Thursday night in protest over what Cuban officials called unfair treatment of some of its fighters.
The Cubans were angered Thursday night when Timour Gaidalov of Russia was awarded the welterweight gold medal by a 5-3 margin over Cuban Juan Hernandez.
