I’ve been watching the boxing events hoping to spot the next Cassius Clay, who won gold in Rome 1960, before becoming Muhammad Ali. Lennox Lewis won gold for Canada in Seoul 1988 before winning heavyweight belts for Britain around 2000. So where can I spot my next champion? Well it’s hard to say. Because the judges have been appalling. I’m not a boxing expert but in every match I’ve watched, all the shots that appeared to have landed haven’t been counted, whereas little slaps have registered immediately. 

So it’s been reassuring to hear British coaches complain about the judges. And now the US have also complained, which makes me feel a lit better! When world welterweight champion Demetrius Andrade went out 11-9 to South Korean Kim Jungjoo 11-9, he claimed 'I fought my heart out but sometimes life is unfair,' he said. 'I was landing a lot of punches but the judges were not giving them to me. It's tough for the kids back home who want to take up boxing because if they come to the Olympics to be treated like this, there's no point in coming at all.'

Well said. My biggest, and only qualm with the Olympic performances so far has been the boxing judges. Te US boxers have won a record 48 golds but they won’t be adding to that tally this time round. Hopefully London’s judges will be fairer, I’m sure they will! Here’s how to make sure it doesn’t come down to the judges…

Attribute success to these four factors - ability/task difficulty/effort/luck!

Sorry if you were hoping for boxing tips, but these attributions will help an athlete define themselves. Dominate all four and the judges will be made redundant. Who’d be a boxer, hey?

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