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Saunders: Medal hope
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British boxing Olympian Bradley Saunders feels he can take his good recent form into Beijing and claim a light-welterweight medal.
Saunders claimed the International Boxing Association's Presidents Cup gold medal in Taiwan in May by beating some of the best light-welterweights in the world.
Sedgefield slugger Saunders defeated Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong in Taiwan before a convincing final win over Zambian Bwalya Hastings.
Saunders' achievements are all the greater due to a career-threatening hand injury he suffered three years ago, which required two metal plates to be inserted.
Saunders also had to have a further operation last December when one of the plates was smashed during the World Championships, but he is now back and fighting for an Olympic medal.
Confidence
One the eve of his departure for Macau in preparation for the Olympic Games, Saunders is in confident mood after his recent displays.
"Boonjumnong just wouldn't come out for the last round (of the semi-final in Taiwan)," said Saunders.
"He's the current Olympic champion so it just goes to show that I'm capable of doing it, it's just a question of whether I can do it again in China.
"It lets them all know that I can do it. It does put a little bit more pressure on my shoulders but if I do what's expected of me then I'll win."
Saunders says his training schedule will have him in peak condition come the Olympics, and he is capable of handling the pressure of being a big medal hope.
Having faced most of his opponents coming up in China, Saunders is relaxed and will not let the expectation on his shoulders affect him.
Peak
"I know I'm not at my peak myself, it will take me two weeks to peak and it just happens that the Olympics are in two weeks so it will be perfect for me," Saunders added.
"I've been good at dealing with all the pressure, I'm used to it now. Over the last two years now I've boxed them all (his forthcoming Olympic opponents) so I know what they are all about."
Saunders also thinks that the strong bond the eight-man Great Britain boxing team has formed will help them bring back a big medal haul from Beijing.
"We've been training together for two years now.
"We spend Monday to Thursday together every week so it's just like family really."
