Saunders warns opponents to fear his iron fist

BOXING star Bradley Saunders insists the only people who need to worry about his left fist are his opponents ahead of the Olympics.

The Durham ABC fighter had to have a metal plate and four pins inserted after breaking his hand when he was 17 only to have that metalwork replaced following his bronze medal at last year's World Championship.

But the 22-year-old light welterweight proved he was back to his best when he forced Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong to quit on his stool six weeks ago and Saunders insists he is ready to inflict some more damage on August 10.

 

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He said: "It gives you a lot of confidence. I went into the competition just to get back into the ring and in the competition they were all Olympians.

"I had done well and I felt going in against the Olympic champion that it would be good preparation for now. It just so happened that I beat him which was fantastic.

 The hand is definitely not a concern anymore. I would plough on even if I snapped it again.

"I have hit it hard enough on the pads and sparring so I think it is alright. Even if it wasn't I would still be there."

Great things are expected of Terry Edwards' eight-strong squad and nothing is being left to chance at the team's training camp in Macau.

The backroom staff includes a sports psychologist and a video analyst who, from a stockpile of 2,500 recorded bouts, has compiled an individual DVD for each British boxer.

And Saunders revealed the video nasty has helped him pinpoint his main rival for the gold.

He said: "For me, the double world champion Serik Sapiyev is the biggest threat.

"We go through the DVD in our own time we go through them.

"We normally watch it last thing before we go sleep and first thing before we wake up.

"Everyone in an Olympic games is really a threat. It is a life-changing thing and we have not even boxed yet."

DANIEL SCHOFIELD in Beijing