Eastern Europe scores in the ring

By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun
  SYDNEY -- The Republic of Moldova won more Olympic boxing medals than Canada. For the first time since 1976, Canadian boxers failed to bring home any hardware.

 That hurts. But if you think the performance by the Maple Leaf lads was not good, how about those Americans?

 This tournament was supposed to be a battle royale between the capitalistic dogs and the socialist hordes. (The U.S. and Cuba).

 As usual, the hordes won hands down, capturing four gold -- including peerless heavyweight Felix Savon's third of his career -- and two bronze. The Americans finished ninth in the tally, with two silver and two bronze. What was perhaps more surprising than their collapse was the emergence of the Eastern European nations as boxing superpowers.

 'ANYTHING WITH STAN'

 When asked what teams impressed him at these Games, three-time Canadian Olympian Mike Strange said: "Definitely you have to look at Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan ... basically anything with Stan in it."

 Of the top 10 boxing squads at Sydney, five were nations from the former Soviet bloc, including the Kazakhs, the Uzbeks, Russia, Ukraine and Romania.

 The two Stans and Russia were particularly impressive. The Russians actually ended up with more medals than Cuba (7-6) although Cuba won the team title based on its four golds. Ukraine captured five, Kazakhstan four, Uzbekistan three and Romania two.

 So what happened to the highly touted U.S., a team with three defending world champions, light-flyweight Brian Viloria, featherweight Ricardo Juarez and heavyweight Michael Bennett? Apparently the same problems faced by U.S. boxers at the past three Olympics -- a problem adjusting to the computerized scoring system. The only golds won by American fighters at the past three Games were lightweight Oscar de la Hoya at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and light-middleweight David Reid in 1996 in Atlanta. The computer system, which rewards a conservative, defensive style of boxing, has been in place for almost a decade.

 'PROFESSIONAL STYLE'

 "But the Americans still fight too much in the professional style," Strange said. "The main goal of their fighters is to turn pro and make some money."

 Heading into this competition, the Cubans were supposed to be a rapidly aging team. Maybe they were, but they still kicked butt. Strange always has been impressed with Fidel's Fighters.

 "They pick them young in Cuba and it's one of their national sports, with baseball," he said. "And they don't turn professional. You get guys like Felix Savon, it's just unbelievable. He has done a lot for the sport."

 Strange, who retired from amateur boxing after fighting here last week, said the main advantage the eastern European nations have is that they train against each other constantly.

 The Canadians spent a couple of weeks before the Sydney Games sparring against a U.S. Marine squad in Hawaii. That did not pay dividends here.