Confident Somjit clobbers Guatemalan rival as he opens quest for golden glory

A determined Somjit Jongjohor cleared his first hurdle in a quest for gold with a 6-1 thrashing of little-known Eddie Valenzuela yesterday.

Veteran Somjit, 33, led the Guatemalan challenger by five points into the fourth and final round, cheered on by 200 flag-waving countrymen.

The 26-year-old Valenzuela threw everything at the 2003 world champ but Somjit avoided disaster.

"It was an easy job. At first, I thought it was going to be tough. I have never seen Valenzuela before. But, after the first round I knew I could cope with him," Somjit says.

He's aware his next test is a "daunting" one.

Azerbaijan's Samir Mammadov is a bronze medallist from last year's world meet.

"He is a hard puncher. He beat Worapoj [Petchkoom] in the President Cup," Somjit says.

Korean Lee Oksung, who beat current world champion Raushee Warren waits in the later rounds.

"I'm convinced winning the gold medal is possible. Lee won the 2005 world crown but I've beaten him before.

"As for my form today, I'm pleased. But, I could have scored more points in the first round," he says.

Amateur Boxing Association boss Taweep Jantararoj says Somjit fought well.

He's cautious about Mammadov and Lee but sees gold chances as reasonable.