Boxers meet US, Brazil in punch-up for diplomacy
BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut: Three Chinese pugilists stepped into the ring halfway around the world last week to give their fellow boxers from the US and Brazil a taste of the Middle Kingdom.
Although China may have hoped for better results in the ring, their efforts at diplomacy were a pounding success.
Two dozen Olympic hopefuls gathered at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, a city 45 miles northeast of New York. Joining the Chinese boxers were seven Brazilians and 14 Americans, each standing by as the other countries' national anthems played at the opening.
There were loud cheers from the announced crowd of 3,473 as the Chinese team entered the ring for introductions to the sound of a wildly popular hip-hop tune, Soulja Boy Tellem's "Crank That (Superman)".
The comments of one young fan, 15-year-old Jawad Chisholm, summed up the atmosphere at the event: "We're not here just to fight each other it's one big family. Nobody's here to be enemies."
The US team was victorious in five of the nine international matches Friday, while China won one out of three on the night.
Javier Molina, a US Olympic boxer, was scheduled to fight Chinese light welterweight Qiong Maimaitituersun, but Qiong was forced to withdraw due to a broken rib suffered in sparing Thursday.
Nonetheless, both athletes were introduced for a handshake in the ring for a show of sportsmanship.
Molina, though disappointed his match was canceled, enjoyed seeing this international competition ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.
"I like the touch of getting us all together and having two Olympians take on each other in a duel," Molina said as he watched teammate Sadam Ali of Brooklyn fight Brazil's Everton Lopes.
Molina spoke of his own experiences in China, and while he was happy that all three countries received a warm welcome from the crowd, he knew the fans rallied behind Team USA. The US team got a similar welcome in China.
"When we went to China they showed us a lot of love over there. Even during the fights, everyone was cheering for us. When we fought Kazakhstan we had most of the crowd with us, but when we fought China everyone was rooting for China," he said.
In an impromptu main event, Chinese heavyweight Yushan Nijiati lost in a second-round bout to American Deontay Wilder. China's only winning fighter on Friday, welterweight Silamu Hanati, was originally scheduled to face 2008 US Olympian Demetrius Andrade in the main event but Andrade was unable to attend due to injury. Instead Silamu fought - and soundly defeated - American Jeremiah Wiggins 3-0 in a terrific display of athleticism.
Half an hour after his fight was over, Silamu returned ringside to stand with Yushan to cheer on teammate Abdureheman Abulkimu, fighting against American Siju Shabazz in the light heavyweight bout. Shabazz scored a 2-1 judges' decision victory as he had Abdureheman on the ropes twice, as Silamu's encouraging voice echoed throughout the arena.
Molina, who will head to Taipei in a week to compete in the Presidents Cup, said that Chinese fighters' approach to boxing was fundamentally different from Americans'. Chinese move their feet a lot more, he said, and don't throw as many power punches. They take their time and balance the fight.
(China Daily 05/15/2008 page23)
