Optimistic Ogogo wants support from Indian fans

Anthony Ogogo appeared a little over-ambitious when he begged for the support of the Indian crowd for his middleweight gold medal fight against Northern Ireland captain Eamonn O'Kane in Delhi today.

'Before I boxed the Indian I had a good rapport with the fans,' said the Lowestoft boxer. 'Hopefully on Wednesday they will forget about that and cheer for me. I just want to win a gold medal for England. I don't care who I'm fighting.'

O'Kane is also looking forward to the final, adding: 'I know Ogogo fancied his chances against the Indian and fair play to him, he's a talented young lad. It's a massive moment for all of us who are in the finals. It's something you dream about.''

Ogogo is one one five English boxer bidding for gold medals. Tom Stalker moved into the lightweight final after a foul-filled contest against India's Jay Bhagwan in which both fighters were penalised for low blows. He will start a heavy favourite to begin England's gold bid with victory over the teenage Scot Josh Taylor.

Stalker added: 'I've sparred the Scottish guy before. He's a very good boxer but I think when I get in there I've got the style to beat him.'

Stalker's fellow Liverpudlian Callum Smith also fights for gold against Northern Ireland's Patrick Gallagher at welterweight, hoping to emulate his brother Stephen who won featherweight gold in Melbourne four years ago.

For Bradley Saunders, who contests the light-welterweight final against India's Manoj Kumar, a gold medal will bring redemption for a difficult two years since he missed out at the Beijing Olympics.

Simon Vallily will finish the night when he faces Northern Ireland's Steven Ward in the heavyweight final.