Will Roberto Cammarelle win gold?

[Mendoza]

Will Roberto Cammarelle win gold? I have looked at some recent results, and I think Cammarelle has a good shot at the super heavyweight gold in 2008.

He's too fast, too skilled, and too big for most. Only a big puncher with some skills is going to beat him.

[Kolya]

No, I think if he's actually healthy, Timurziev will win. He has a good style. Camarelle is good, but watching him fight Povetkin again; he boxed very tentatively and Povetkin isn't the puncher that Islam is.

[kenmore]

From what I've read, it sounds like Timurziev will win the gold if he's injury-free. However, given Timurziev's history of illnesses, cuts, and other problems, it's anything but certain that he will be 100% at the Olympics. If Timurziev is not fully up to par, then Cammarelle has an excellent chance of winning gold himself.

[NBT]

The huge Chinamen or the UK fighter come to mind. No, those guys are not good enough to win gold, especially Price, maybe a bronze medal if they get a lucky draw. The gold medal should be contested between Timurziev, Cammarelle and the Cuban Roberto Alfonso with Timurziev being the strong favourite.

[dwilson]

I like the Cuiban kids chances but I also think Islam will flatter to decieve and catch an early boat home. Cammarelle looks good so has a chance. I am looking forward to seeing my countryman Price fight but I can not expect more than a quarter final place.

[southpawslick]

Cammerelle should win it if Timurziev is injured. Does anyone have the latest news on whether Timurziev will compete?

[Mendoza]

Cammerelle should win it if Timurziev is injured. Does anyone have the latest news on whether Timurziev will compete?

Cammarelle recently beat the #1 fighter from Ukraine who came in 2nd at the world amatuer champions by a big margin. Roberto can box. He has speed. He has power. He's pretty big too.

Timurziev seems to have regressed a bit due to injures. I think Cammarelle is the man to beat.

[southpawslick]

Cammarelle recently beat the #1 fighter from Ukraine who came in 2nd at the world amatuer champions by a big margin. Roberto can box. He has speed. He has power. He's pretty big too.

Timurziev seems to have regressed a bit due to injures. I think Cammarelle is the man to beat.
Yea I think so too. Cammerelle's a good boxer who just happened to fight in the same era as, first Povetkin and now Timurziev.

[boxexpert]

probably he will

[Artani]

I suspect Kubrat Pulev to be surprise in the olimpics. Pulev gets of lot experince and he is on good shape. I wait Pulev to win medal.

My short list about medals are : Timurziev, Pulev, Cammarelle, Alfonso, Glazkov, Zhilei and maybe Price.

[Mendoza]

I suspect Kubrat Pulev to be surprise in the olimpics. Pulev gets of lot experince and he is on good shape. I wait Pulev to win medal.

My short list about medals are : Timurziev, Pulev, Cammarelle, Alfonso, Glazkov, Zhilei and maybe Price.

I think Glazkov and Zhilei are too slow to win a points match vs Cammarelle.

Pulev is the upset guy in my book, but I'm not sure if he is a good pro prospect like Cammarelle or Timurziev would be.

[PaddyD1983]

I thought I heard that Zhilei had pulled out due to an injury?

I think Price may surprise a few round these parts...

[Mendoza]

I do not believe Cammarelle would be a top professional. He is getting up there in age and he does not take the best punch.

Cammarelle is 28, soon to be 29. I think he's still young enough to go pro. And he's good enough to win a belt. Cammarelle is better than the Vidoz's and Sam's of euro boxing. In fact he looks to be better than Dimitrenko.

Cammarelle hasn't been floored in any match I read. I think his main problem was stamina and fire, but he looks to have come into his own since the 2004 games.

Here is information on him, and some of his matches

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[NBT]

You have to understand that Amateur boxing and pro boxing are different sports. Amateur boxing is about 3 or 4 fast paced rounds where you need to land clear punches to score points. It requires a different skillset than pro boxing where the pace is usually much slower because you have to potieitally box 12 rounds. In pro boxing you win rounds by single "effective" punches, ring generalship and subjective shit like that. A knockdown is a huge thing because you're almost guaranteed to win the round. In amateur boxing a knockdown is just another point and that's it.

If you're successful at amateur boxing it only says you have a talent that works for amateur boxing, it might or might not work for pro boxing. If you stay an amateur until 30 it's very hard to change you're style to suit pro boxing because the amateur style just comes natural to you after 15-20 years as an amateur boxer. Ottke was an amateur until 30 and became a successful pro but you see the hate he got for fighting the way he fought, which was based on his amteur style. Many pro boxing "fans" want entertainment and don't appreciate technical boxing. Cammarelle has a style that might work in pro boxing but you never know you just can't tell.

And btw Cammarelle was knocked down by Islam Timurziev in the 2006 European Championships and subsequently lost on points.

[Mendoza]

You have to understand that Amateur boxing and pro boxing are different sports. Amateur boxing is about 3 or 4 fast paced rounds where you need to land clear punches to score points. It requires a different skillset than pro boxing where the pace is usually much slower because you have to potieitally box 12 rounds. In pro boxing you win rounds by single "effective" punches, ring generalship and subjective shit like that. A knockdown is a huge thing because you're almost guaranteed to win the round. In amateur boxing a knockdown is just another point and that's it.

If you're successful at amateur boxing it only says you have a talent that works for amateur boxing, it might or might not work for pro boxing. If you stay an amateur until 30 it's very hard to change you're style to suit pro boxing because the amateur style just comes natural to you after 15-20 years as an amateur boxer. Ottke was an amateur until 30 and became a successful pro but you see the hate he got for fighting the way he fought, which was based on his amteur style. Many pro boxing "fans" want entertainment and don't appreciate technical boxing. Cammarelle has a style that might work in pro boxing but you never know you just can't tell.

And btw Cammarelle was knocked down by Islam Timurziev in the 2006 European Championships and subsequently lost on points.

Nice post and I agree with what you said. Ok-- So Timurziev, the biggest puncher at super heavy, knocked Cammarelle down. This is not a bad thing. As you said, the amateur and the pro game are very different, and being a very good to great amateur does not guarantee being a great pro.

I have seen Cammrelle a few times, and he is the most atheltically gifted power hitter with speed in the amateur super heavyweight division. Such a man has an excellent chance of doing well as a professional.

I think if managed properly, Cammarelle has a better chance of going further and making more money than Dimitrenko.

Heavyweight boxing can always use more talent. The super heavyweight gold medalists in the Olympics attracts the limelight that the sport needs when he turns professional. If Cammerelle wins gold, I hope he gets a good contract offer and turns professional.

[avk47]

No, I think if he's actually healthy, Timurziev will win. He has a good style. Camarelle is good, but watching him fight Povetkin again; he boxed very tentatively and Povetkin isn't the puncher that Islam is.

Although in his amateur days Povetkin was actually seen as a banger. Strange how times have changed.

[Kolya]

Although in his amateur days Povetkin was actually seen as a banger. Strange how times have changed.


No kidding. But God, Sasha threw combos like it was going out of style. :lol:

[Mendoza]

As you stated earlier, he will be better than Vidoz but as a professional Dimitrenko has far more upside. Additionally Cammarelle was nearly stopped in the Athens Games quarterfinals by a slow, crude Nigerian boxer

I think Cammarelle has more upside than Dimitrenko. Cammarelle hits much harder, and seems to have better hand speed.

I have yet to see Cammarelle's chin fail him to lose by a TKO/KO. And he's been in there with some bangers for sure.

[NBT]

Cammarelle has a few stoppage losses years ago that I know of, 2001 in Bulgaria against Sultan Ibragimov and in Italy against Kubrat Pulev. He lost every meeting with Povetkin but was never stopped.

[Farmboxer]

Wish him luck.

[11player]

I agree with NBT, just think that although it's a different sport, the amateur from the professional, it is almost a sure thing a top amateur will be a very good professional, just may not get to become champion, if he doesn't make the transition too late.

I also believe the gold medal will end up with Camarelle, Timurziev or Alfonso.

[Artani]

Its Alfonso new Teofilo Stevenson or Felix Savon ?

[Mendoza]

Its Alfonso new Teofilo Stevenson or Felix Savon ?

Nope.

[11player]

Camarelle will make a fine pro, hope he makes the transition right after the olympics.

He's not sensational but he is talented.

[Leeroy]

Like Kersey said, hopefully he is moved well once he turns pro. He has potential.

[geppy]

Cammarelle is real good fighter, and should turn pro. There is nothing more for Roberto to achieve in the amatuers, he won the World Amatuer Championship and Olympic Gold.

[Leeroy]

Cammarelle gives Italy super heavyweight gold

By BARRY WILNER, AP Sports Writer
Aug 24, 6:41 am EDT
Buzz Up
Print

BEIJING (AP)—Boxing ended with a big thud for China, thanks to an Italian policeman with no intentions of turning pro.

Super heavyweight Roberto Cammarelle stopped Zhang Zhilei in the fourth round of the final bout of the Olympics on Sunday. Cammarelle was way ahead on points after battering his Chinese opponent, who had won two routs and a walkover to get to the gold medal bout.

Zhang was the only one of three Chinese finalists to lose, and he was clearly overmatched by the 28-year-old veteran and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist. Cammarelle battered Zhang’s head so effectively in the last round that the referee had no choice but to stop the bout.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy, but in the end the bout turned out the way I expected,” said Cammarelle, the 2007 world champion. “He is a dangerous giant, but I badly wanted to win.”

What he doesn’t want badly is a pro career. Cammarelle said he will remain an amateur, fighting for his club in Italy, and defend his world title next year.

“I’ll keep on going in the Olympic, or amateur level, and compete for my police club and try to defend my world championship in Milan, my home city,” Cammarelle said. “Then perhaps I will retire because I will be at that age.”

Cammarelle is the first Italian to win boxing medals in successive games. He figured to have a difficult chore against Zhang in front of the loud, partisan crowd. But he had his share of supporters, too, and when Cammarelle won, coach Francesco Damiani leapt around like a school kid at recess.

“It was a fight with no story,” Damiani said. “After the first round, it was clear who would win. I never feared my athlete could lose this final.”

Nor was Cammarelle ever worried.

“I could even have won with five Chinese judges,” he said, smiling broadly.

That also brought a smile to Zhang’s face during a news conference. Moments earlier, Zhang playfully tapped Cammarelle in the shoulder several times.

“All I can say is my opponent was doing an excellent job,” Zhang said. “I was a little nervous in my home country and there was a lot of pressure. I did not do as good a job as I should have done.”

Cammarelle learned plenty at Athens—mainly that he just wasn’t good enough for gold.

“Compared to four years ago, I became a different boxer and I improved,” he said. “My first two matches here were hard fights, and the third and fourth I won based on technical skills. I can adapt myself to my opponents, but I perform best when it is a technical fight.”

Actually, in Beijing, he performed best under all conditions.

“I knew I’d always win,” Cammarelle said. “It’s just a matter of how I win.”

[Only registered and activated users can see links]


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Well, I guess you can forget Roberto turning pro.

[micky]

Cammarelle gives Italy super heavyweight gold

By BARRY WILNER, AP Sports Writer
Aug 24, 6:41 am EDT
Buzz Up
Print

BEIJING (AP)—Boxing ended with a big thud for China, thanks to an Italian policeman with no intentions of turning pro.

Super heavyweight Roberto Cammarelle stopped Zhang Zhilei in the fourth round of the final bout of the Olympics on Sunday. Cammarelle was way ahead on points after battering his Chinese opponent, who had won two routs and a walkover to get to the gold medal bout.

Zhang was the only one of three Chinese finalists to lose, and he was clearly overmatched by the 28-year-old veteran and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist. Cammarelle battered Zhang’s head so effectively in the last round that the referee had no choice but to stop the bout.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy, but in the end the bout turned out the way I expected,” said Cammarelle, the 2007 world champion. “He is a dangerous giant, but I badly wanted to win.”

What he doesn’t want badly is a pro career. Cammarelle said he will remain an amateur, fighting for his club in Italy, and defend his world title next year.

“I’ll keep on going in the Olympic, or amateur level, and compete for my police club and try to defend my world championship in Milan, my home city,” Cammarelle said. “Then perhaps I will retire because I will be at that age.”

Cammarelle is the first Italian to win boxing medals in successive games. He figured to have a difficult chore against Zhang in front of the loud, partisan crowd. But he had his share of supporters, too, and when Cammarelle won, coach Francesco Damiani leapt around like a school kid at recess.

“It was a fight with no story,” Damiani said. “After the first round, it was clear who would win. I never feared my athlete could lose this final.”

Nor was Cammarelle ever worried.

“I could even have won with five Chinese judges,” he said, smiling broadly.

That also brought a smile to Zhang’s face during a news conference. Moments earlier, Zhang playfully tapped Cammarelle in the shoulder several times.

“All I can say is my opponent was doing an excellent job,” Zhang said. “I was a little nervous in my home country and there was a lot of pressure. I did not do as good a job as I should have done.”

Cammarelle learned plenty at Athens—mainly that he just wasn’t good enough for gold.

“Compared to four years ago, I became a different boxer and I improved,” he said. “My first two matches here were hard fights, and the third and fourth I won based on technical skills. I can adapt myself to my opponents, but I perform best when it is a technical fight.”

Actually, in Beijing, he performed best under all conditions.

“I knew I’d always win,” Cammarelle said. “It’s just a matter of how I win.”

[Only registered and activated users can see links]


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Well, I guess you can forget Roberto turning pro.


Its a shame he cannot turn professional but his back would not be up to it, he suffers badly in that department, he will defend his world, the lure of 2012 may keep him around but he won't be going professional that is for certain.

[Irish Fire]

shame he can't go pro. wasted talent.

[Mendoza]

shame he can't go pro. wasted talent.



Money talks. Cammarelle contract offer might be say $250,000 or more, which far exceeds his police job.

I am hoping fellow Italians like Vidoz, or Damiammi can talk some sense into Cammarelle. Boxing needs Cammarelle to go pro.

[Kolya]

shame he can't go pro. wasted talent.


I wouldn't say two Olympic Medals and a World Amateur Championship are wasted talent. Maybe, like with quite a few other amateurs, being a pro just doesn't matter to him.

[NBT]

For successful, accomplished, long time amateurs to turn pro is quite a risk with unknown reward. Cammarelle always went the path of an career amateur so that's what I expected. Maybe they succeed, maybe not, there is always to risk of being another Audley Harrsion, you just can't tell. In amateur boxing, if you lose a fight, it's not that big of a deal, next tournament, next opportunity. In pro boxing, you lose a fight, you're a bum and have to get in line for another a long time before you get another chance. Also, fighting as an amateur for 15-20 years is very taxing on hte body, Felix Savon's hands were totally messed up by the time of his retirement, so starting new in a whole different sport at a time when you may start to feel your age may not be too tempting.

[11player]

Money talks. Cammarelle contract offer might be say $250,000 or more, which far exceeds his police job.

I am hoping fellow Italians like Vidoz, or Damiammi can talk some sense into Cammarelle. Boxing needs Cammarelle to go pro.

Exactly!! the HW division needs Camarelle.

He could go pro for just a few years, make a boat load of money, get a major belt, then retire early and go back to a ordinary life as a policeman. I'll take that rather than nothing.

Can't believe Camarelle is not considering going pro, it would be too much of a waste. Someone with his skills could make millions easely.

[Mendoza]

Exactly!! the HW division needs Camarelle.

He could go pro for just a few years, make a boat load of money, get a major belt, then retire early and go back to a ordinary life as a policeman. I'll take that rather than nothing.

Can't believe Camarelle is not considering going pro, it would be too much of a waste. Someone with his skills could make millions easely.

I feel the same way. Cammarelle was given a gift. He should use by going pro it if he cares about boxing.

[Kolya]

I feel the same way. Cammarelle was given a gift. He should use by going pro it if he cares about boxing.


I think he's shown he cares about boxing by sticking with the amateurs for all these years. I don't see why he's beholden to turn pro; one Gold Medalist, particularly an Italian one, isn't going to magically save the sport and professional boxing in Europe is doing fine without him. I look forward to seeing him at the Worlds next year.

[Mendoza]

I think he's shown he cares about boxing by sticking with the amateurs for all these years. I don't see why he's beholden to turn pro; one Gold Medalist, particularly an Italian one, isn't going to magically save the sport and professional boxing in Europe is doing fine without him. I look forward to seeing him at the Worlds next year.

Cammarelle could be a star in both Europe and America. I don't think Cammarelle will save the sport, but he will add something to the heavyweight divison.

The aura of the gold medal winner at super heavy always has hype attached to him. Boxing needs that. If Cammarelle stays an amatuer, which young prospect will you be exicted about? See my point.

Boxing needs him to go pro. Though Cammarelle lost to Povektin, some of the fights were close, and Cammarelle now is better than he was then.

I still have not seen a link to the gold medal match that works. Grrrrr....

[Kolya]

I'm not exited about any young prospect because I don't give a shit about pro boxing. Youtube has done a succesful job of removing all the videos that violate NBC's broadcast rights. Anyway, back to the point; Cammarelle I assume is already fairly well known in Italy, is 28 years old, and has a career. And who knows, maybe the Italian government actually helps support their Olympians; and maybe Roberto wants to keep his brain cells intact and just go about his career as a police officer. More power to him for following his own desires and not just going for the fast money; if he was interested in that he could have turned pro after Athens.

[southpawslick]

I'm not exited about any young prospect because I don't give a shit about pro boxing. Youtube has done a succesful job of removing all the videos that violate NBC's broadcast rights.
That really sucks too. I mean, its not like they show amateur boxing anywhere anyway, what harm could it do to let people watch on youtube. Fuck lawyers and corporate America.

And yea I heard the Italian government does subsidize Cammerelle. We won't see him turn pro.

[Odo]

I'm not exited about any young prospect because I don't give a shit about pro boxing. Youtube has done a succesful job of removing all the videos that violate NBC's broadcast rights. Anyway, back to the point; Cammarelle I assume is already fairly well known in Italy, is 28 years old, and has a career. And who knows, maybe the Italian government actually helps support their Olympians; and maybe Roberto wants to keep his brain cells intact and just go about his career as a police officer. More power to him for following his own desires and not just going for the fast money; if he was interested in that he could have turned pro after Athens.

Good post,kolya!

[11player]

You know, it's not fair to the fans. Maybe in Europe and US there is good amateur coverage, but the rest of the world only get to see it during the Olympics.

The fans worldwide should see Camarelle fight, he's a talent and can help the HW division go back to being interesting.

[Mendoza]

I'm not exited about any young prospect because I don't give a shit about pro boxing. Youtube has done a succesful job of removing all the videos that violate NBC's broadcast rights. Anyway, back to the point; Cammarelle I assume is already fairly well known in Italy, is 28 years old, and has a career. And who knows, maybe the Italian government actually helps support their Olympians; and maybe Roberto wants to keep his brain cells intact and just go about his career as a police officer. More power to him for following his own desires and not just going for the fast money; if he was interested in that he could have turned pro after Athens.

Cammarelle was bronze in Athens. His offer would not be great in 2004. However, he has matured, and is now gold in 2008. His offer now would be MUCH better. Boxing needs Cammarelle to go pro. The decision of course is his.

Amateur boxing needs to go back to the old scoring style. Right now its a mess. Are you really for Cammarelle sticking around in a game that often resembles a bogus points game of tag?

[Kolya]

Cammarelle was bronze in Athens. His offer would not be great in 2004. However, he has matured, and is now gold in 2008. His offer now would be MUCH better. Boxing needs Cammarelle to go pro. The decision of course is his.

Amateur boxing needs to go back to the old scoring style. Right now its a mess. Are you really for Cammarelle sticking around in a game that often resembles a bogus points game of tag?

The coring system is going to be overhauled and they're going back to 3x3 rounds. It's never going to change back to some BS subjective 10-point system, which is the way I think it should be. I like the computer, just not the way it was used in Beijing. But I'd like to see Camarelle as an amateur more; I like amateur boxing more than pro boxing.

[Kolya]

You know, it's not fair to the fans. Maybe in Europe and US there is good amateur coverage, but the rest of the world only get to see it during the Olympics.

The fans worldwide should see Camarelle fight, he's a talent and can help the HW division go back to being interesting.

Not fair to the fans? Camarelle isn't a pro; he's not paid to give a shit what fans think. The Italian government subsidises him to win medals, which he does. Like I tell anyone else who complains about not being entertained by amateur boxing-pay me and I'll care if you're entertained. I box because I like it, not because I care what anyone else thinks; and I think it's the same with most other guys too.

[southpawslick]

Not fair to the fans? Camarelle isn't a pro; he's not paid to give a shit what fans think. The Italian government subsidises him to win medals, which he does. Like I tell anyone else who complains about not being entertained by amateur boxing-pay me and I'll care if you're entertained. I box because I like it, not because I care what anyone else thinks; and I think it's the same with most other guys too.
damn good post! Thank you :happy People don't realize that amateurs is not the minor leagues for professional boxing, its a whole different sport.

[11player]

Not fair to the fans? Camarelle isn't a pro; he's not paid to give a shit what fans think. The Italian government subsidises him to win medals, which he does. Like I tell anyone else who complains about not being entertained by amateur boxing-pay me and I'll care if you're entertained. I box because I like it, not because I care what anyone else thinks; and I think it's the same with most other guys too.

Hey Kolya, I know all that, what I'm saying is that I trully believe Camarelle is a talent, who could very well beat Wlad and Peter, that's all.

With the current weak situation at HW, it would be very helpful if he joined the division.

The is no denying the HW division is the most prestigious and all the fans are dying to watch a good HW fight once again.

Sure he has to go by his toughts but being already a World Champ and Olympic Champ, there is no more challenge for him at amateur level.

Well, he is not interested, I'm fine with that, but boxing does lose a bit with his decision.