Olympic heartbreak for Weaver (From Daily Echo)

Olympic heartbreak for Weaver

2:06pm Friday 30th March 2012 in Boxing

IAIN Weaver was last night left heartbroken after his Olympic dream was shattered.

The boxer, left, who trains at Southampton’s Golden Ring club, was overlooked for the final London 2012 qualifier in Turkey next month, despite claiming a silver medal in the recent Strandja Cup in Bulgaria.

Weaver, the 2009 ABA senior champion at 57kg, European silver medallist in 2010 and Commonwealth gold medallist the same year, was understood to be battling with Londoner Martin Ward for a spot at the Istanbul qualifier.

Ward failed to win a medal in the Czech Republic Grand Prix last week and was found wanting at the first Olympic qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan late last year, leaving Weaver in prime position for a shot at Games qualification.

But Great Britain boxing chief Rob McCracken yesterday sprung a surprise on both Ferndown-based Weaver and Ward when he selected Scouse prospect Sam Maxwell for Istanbul.

Maxwell, the reigning ABA champion at 60kg, has only been on the Great Britain podium squad since January, but claimed a gold medal on international debut in Finland last week.

Weaver has been with the GB training squad in Sheffield for more than three years since winning several junior national titles at featherweight.

Weaver’s father Jay claimed McCracken had told his son he was “too small” at 60kg when breaking the news to the 22-year-old.