Birmingham flyweight Khalid Yafai has become the fifth British boxer to qualify for this year's Beijing Olympics after an epic come-from-behind win over Moldova's Igor Samoilenco in Pescara.
The 19-year-old showed maturity way beyond his limited senior experience to change styles after a torrid start and overcome a seven-point deficit to triumph 13-11.
Cool Yafai's hopes of counter-punching his way to success had been wrecked within the opening minute when he was deducted two points for slapping, and when he was warned again he stood on the brink of disqualification.
But trailing 3-10 at the midway point, Yafai threw caution to the wind and attacked his experienced opponent, who was penalised two points himself in the third as Yafai closed the gap.
Sensing a Beijing berth was within touching distance, Yafai forced Samoilenco to take a standing count in the fourth and finally went ahead with 30 seconds remaining to earn his place in China.
Yafai, who has confounded expectations ever since he became the first British winner of the World Cadet Championships in 2005, said: "It feels great to be an Olympian. I knew I was too strong for him and I persevered."
Head coach Terry Edwards, who had originally marked Yafai out as a long-term 2012 contender, said: "He adapted to the situation, was able to take instructions, changed his tactics and scored a fantastic win."
Teenage welterweight Billy Saunders suffered an agonising 15-13 defeat to Ukrainian spoiler Oleksandr Stretskyy but will still qualify if he wins a bronze medal box-off tomorrow.
The highly-rated Hoddesdon youngster struggled to show off his best work against an opponent who was twice warned for bending low but still managed to maintain a steady lead throughout.
The verdict in favour of Stretskyy did not go down well amongst the Italian crowd but Saunders has the solace of being in a weight division which offers a second chance, and will face Slovakian Pavol Hlavacka tomorrow.
Liverpool featherweight Stephen Smith is also looking ahead to a bronze medal box-off after being tactically withdrawn after one round against Frenchman Khesafi Djelkhir today.
The classy Frenchman was a cut above and had raced into an 11-1 lead when Smith's corner took the wise decision to save him for Saturday. If he beats German Wilhelm Gratschow tomorrow he will still qualify.
Cavan 18-year-old John Joe Nevin became Ireland's second Olympic qualifier after a magnificent 32-16 success over Maksym Tretyak of the Ukraine.
The inexperienced Nevin made the most of his chance in a stunning third round when he roared back from a 9-11 deficit to take a 10-point lead going into the final round. He joins fellow Ulsterman Paddy Barnes in Beijing.
London middleweight James Degale took the overall qualification tally to six with an accomplished 17-9 win over Hungary's Istvan Szili.
Degale soaked up a big right hand in round two and was also sent to the canvas after being caught off-balance, but ultimately eased to victory.
The win will come as a major boost for the highly talented Degale, who has often previously failed to produce results on the big occasion.
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