THE END OF THE RIDE
The British Lionhearts bow out of the World Series of Boxing semi- nals, writes John Dennen
FOR this year the British Lionhearts’ adventure in the World Series of Boxing came to an end in Atyrau City, Kazakhstan. There on Saturday (May 26), the Astana Arlans Kazakhstan defeated the Lionhearts 4-1 in the second leg of the semifinal, winning 10-3 overall.
Flyweight Will Cawley was the sole victor in Kazakhstan. In a close bout he put his skills to work to outpoint Saken Bibossinov, winning a split decision 48-47 on two cards. The third card went 48-47 to Bibossinov.
Lightweight Calum French can count himself profoundly unlucky. Not content to rest after his Commonwealth Games campaign in Australia, he travelled to Asia to box Serik Temirzhanov. The Kazakh came out strongly. But with clever southpaw right hooks into Temirzhanov’s body French stalled his opponent’s forward march. French boxed smartly, lancing straight one-twos through the middle. On the judges’ cards the two were level going into the last round. In that final session French was excellent, busier, more accurate and outlanding Temirzhanov. However a controversial split decision went to the home nation boxer, 48-47 on two cards. The third judge scored 48-47 for French.
Young welterweight Carl Fail
went into a tough battle with Aslanbek Shymbergenov. The Kazakh caught him with hard shots and handed Fail a standing count early on in the contest. Carl weathered the storm but lost a clear unanimous decision. The judges all scored for Shymbergenov, 50-45, 50-44 and 50-43.
Super-heavyweight Solomon Daces has been in good form this season but could not overcome more experienced Kazakh international Kamshybek Kunkabayev. The southpaw took a unanimous decision 49-46 and 50-45 twice.
Liridon Nuha, guesting on the Lionhearts franchise also lost a unanimous decision, losing 50-45 and 50-44 twice to lightheavyweight Bek Nurmaganbet.
The Kazakhs will now box the Cuba Domadores in the WSB final. In their semi-final the Cubans overcame the French Fighting Roosters over two legs, in Paris and then Havana. On May 25 in Cuba they made sure of their advance to the final with a 5-0 team victory. Olympic champs Robeisy Ramirez and Arlen Lopez were in action, beating Samuel Kistohurry and Martin Owono at 56kgs and 75kgs respectively. Lopez won by stoppage and light-welter star Andy Cruz
also knocked out Morgan N’dong.
Excellent heavyweight Erislandy Savon halted Sylvain Luce.
The Lionhearts this season have tested the depth of their squad, having to rest a number of their first choice boxers after the Commonwealth Games. As a whole they’ll be satisfied with the experience gained from progressing to the later stages of this competition.
“Dalton Smith [in the first leg] was able to get in with the Kazakh and see where he’s at, a learning experience,” GB performance director Rob Mccracken pointed out. “Solomon [Dacres] is a tremendous fighter, real prospect, loads of potential but obviously it’s a learning fight in Kazakhstan. Likewise Carl Fail at 69kgs, very talented. Will Cawley has got lots of ability and is working on his fitness so he can compete in a good hard bout.”
“Calum French was really keen to jump in and compete after the Commonwealth Games,” he continued. ”Cheavon Clarke jumped in and did fantastically well [in the first leg]. There’s some really good examples [of the] inexperienced jumping in and learning, and boxers with experience competing well like Chev and Galal Yafai [in Sheffield] and getting wins.
“It’s a fairly inexperienced team at the highest level but a team full of quality.”
That bodes well for the future, with the World Series of Boxing expected to be a key part of the qualifying process for the next Olympic Games.