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2008 Olympics: Where are Team GB's boxing stars now?

James DeGale Tony Jeffries Olympics

James DeGale, Billy Joe Saunders and David Price all represented Team GB at the 2008 Olympic Games.

After a year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Olympic Games will return in July, this time being hosted in Tokyo.

Team GB will be hoping for plenty of medals following the huge success of Rio 2016.

Pat McCormack, Frazer Clarke and Caroline Dubois are some of the fighters competing for a place at the Tokyo Games.
But who represented Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics? Here, Planet Sport Boxing takes a look at the team and how they fared.

James DeGale: Gold (middleweight)

James DeGale won gold in Beijing to become Team GB's first Olympic champion since heavyweight Audley Harrison in 2000.

The West London-born fighter won a scrappy affair in the final to secure his status as a British Olympics hero.

DeGale turned pro at super middleweight in December 2008 by signing with renowned promoter Frank Warren.

He went on to become British champion before suffering his first loss at the hands of George Groves in 2011.

DeGale soon got his career back on track and became IBF world champion four years later, beating Andre Direll via unanimous decision.

He lost his world title to American Caleb Truax in December 2017 before avenging the defeat five months later.
DeGale retired in 2019 with a record of 25-3-1 (15 KOs).

David Price: Bronze (super heavyweight)

6ft 8in fighter David Price went into the Beijing Olympics with high expectations, having won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
He came close to repeating that success in 2008 by picking up a bronze, after losing to eventual winner Roberto Cammarelle of Italy.
Price immediately revealed his intention to turn pro and fight for major titles. He soon amassed a record of 12-0 (9 KOs) and won the Commonwealth heavyweight title in 2012.
However, Price has never been able to step up and reach world level. He's picked up losses to Christian Hammer and Alexander Povetkin.
His most recent fight was a TKO defeat at the hands of British rival Dereck Chisora in 2019.

Billy Joe Saunders: Second round (welterweight)

Super middleweight Billy Joe Saunders will take on pound-for-pound king Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in a much-anticipated fight this May, with three world titles on the line.

Saunders certainly has the skill to trouble Canelo, but it's not yet clear whether he can cause a huge upset.
Saunders went into the Beijing Olympics with plenty of plaudits. Coach Terry Edwards hailed him as one of the best fighters to represent Team GB, having beaten a European champion while still a teenager.

Saunders was knocked out in the second round by respected Cuban man Carlos Banteaux Suarez. But his huge potential was shown by the fact that he could compete with Suarez despite being just 18.

The southpaw has backed up that promise since turning pro. He reigned as the WBO middleweight champion from 2015 to 2018, before gaining the vacant super middleweight version in 2019.
Saunders has had a controversial yet successful career. His best win could come against one of the sport's biggest stars later this year.

Tony Jeffries: Bronze (light heavyweight)

Tony Jeffries' greatest, and only, success came at the Beijing Olympics.
He beat Hungary's Imre Szello with a dominant display to reach the semi-finals, creating hope that he could bring home gold at light heavyweight.

The Sunderland man's dreams were ultimately ruined by a loss to Ireland's Kenneth Egan.

Jeffries turned pro by signing with promoter Frank Maloney in January 2009. He managed a record of 9-0-1 (6 KOs) but had to retire in 2012 due to ongoing hand problems.
He now runs a gym in Los Angeles, helping others to follow in his footsteps and pursue their dreams in the sport.

Khalid Yafai: Round of 16 (flyweight)

Khalid Yafai reached the round of 16 in Beijing but was knocked out by veteran Cuban Andry Laffita, the eventual silver medal winner.

He became world super flyweight champion in 2016 by defeating Luis Concepcion for the WBA title. He made five successful defences before Roman Gonzalez handed him his first defeat in 2020.

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