Kamsing's boxing lesson

Australia's Paul Miller got a controversial decision

Thailand's featherweight Somluck Kamsing began the defence of his Olympic title in comfortable fashion.

The winner of Thailand's first ever gold medal, he outclassed Colombia's Andres Ledesma Villalba, using his nimble footwork and fast hands to score and duck away.

"He is more experienced, better than Atlanta," said his Cuban coach Juan Bautista Fontanills Quesada.

One Thai who did not fair so well was middleweight Somchai Cimlum, who lost out to Cuba's Jorge Gutierrez.

Master class

Cuban featherweight Yosvany Aguilera put on a boxing master class against Japan's Hidehiko Tsukamoto over three round distance.

Uzbekistan's middleweight Utkirbek Haydarov went out 11-10 to Russia's Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov, the first reigning world champion to exit the tournament.

The United States took two more easy first round wins, with Iranian Bijan Batmani outclassed by America's finest featherweight Ricardo "Rocky" Juarez.

Middleweight Jeff Lacy, the hardest hitter in the squad, continued the winning run by demolishing Brazilian Cleiton Conceicao in another fight that failed to go the distance.

"I just wanted to strike some fear in these middleweights' minds that, hey, this guy's no pushover," said Lacy.

Unhappy

Algerian featherweight Nouzeddine Medjehoud had his headguard knocked off twice against South African Jeffrey Mathebula and if the team were unhappy about that result, it was nothing compared to a later defeat.

Middleweight Abdelhani Kinzi lost 19-9 to Romanian Adrian Diaconu but he and his coaches clearly thought they had been robbed of victory by the computerised scoring.

"Everyone is against us, against Africa," complained Algerian head coach Rabah Hamadache.

There was further debate, among reporters at least, when Australian middleweight Paul Miller beat Dominican Jerson Ravelo 8-7 to wild cheering from the partisan crowd.

Bad decision

The Dominican had led 7-3 after the second round and then, to his amazement failed to score again. "It was a bad decision, I landed more than two punches in the last round," he said.

Miller's victory made up for Australian featherweight James Swan, who lost 8-4 to Brazilian Valdemir Dos Santos Pereira.

"I just didn't have the goods on the day, I couldn't deliver," said the 26-year-old hotel porter, who will now turn professional. The fight must have been more painful than first reckoned, with Swan now looking to fight a certain British fighter.

"Prince Naseem (Hamed), he's a skilful fighter, but if I get my skill and have my strength behind it that guy will be watching out for me in a couple of years."