(Xinhua photos)

Despite a courageous four-round fight, China's middle weight boxer Hada Bateer lost to the top gold favorite Andre Dirrell of the United States in one of the opening bouts at the boxing tournament of the 2004 Athens Olympiadhere Saturday afternoon.

The 27-year-old Bateer, Asian champion in 2002, was defeated 18-25 by points by Dirrell, a 21-year-old rising star for the Americans in the second bout of the 75 kg category.

Though having attacked actively and even taken some slight advantage in the first round, Bateer lost his speed and pace in the next three and conceded many points to the young American.

"The performance of Bateer on the area is generally good and hehas displayed his best. However, he is still no match to his American opponent both in skills, speed and sense of tactics," commented Li Qingsheng, head coach of the Chinese boxing team.

"While Bateer lacked some patience and attacked in a haste in the last three rounds, Dirrell showed a good defense and seized every good opportunity for counter-attacks," Li added.

Dirrell, who beat Cuba's gold hopeful Despaigne Herrera at the Olympic Test Event in Athens in May, has been regarded as a strongcontender for the middle weight gold, as well as the one who is most likely to win an Olympic gold for the U.S. team. The U.S. boxers were greatly embarrassed at Sydney 2000 as they had to return home with only two silvers and two bronzes.

"I believe that if I keep sticking to my game and I work hard, I will get a gold medal, I believe that," said Dirrell with great confidence after his win.

To achieve his goal, however, Dirrell will need to not only beat the powerful Cuban again, but also conquer Kazakstan's world champion Gennadiy Golovkin and Russia's European champion Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov.

Dirrell also praised the fighting spirit of his Chinese opponent. "He is a great fighter," he said. "He pushes himself out,he sticks to winning and works hard."

China, which has six boxers competing at the Games, will see its light heavy weight boxer Lei Yuping take on Cameroon boxer Pierre Celestin Yana in an 81 kg bout scheduled for Saturday evening.

Li, the Chinese coach, refused to make any predictions about the match. "We know nothing about our Cameroon opponent and it's hard to say who can win," he said.

China, whose best ever Olympic result was a fifth place in the 91 kg heavy weight category at Atlanta 1996, has pinned its hope for the first ever Olympic boxing medal on light fly weight boxer Zou Shiming, a 23-year-old "dark horse" who won a silver medal at the 2003 world championships in Bangkok.

However, Zou will also meet an American boxer, the 17-year-old Rau Shee Warren in his Olympic debut scheduled for August 18.

"I would like to hold up on now," said Pashter Abdullah, coach of the U.S. boxing team, while asked to comment on the encounter between Zou and Warren.
 
Editor: Catherine