Canberra boxer snubbed in seedings, but it's not a knockout blow

DISAPPOINTED Australian men's boxing coach Don Abnett says he has little choice but to accept the surprise decision to deny Canberra-based Damien Hooper a seeding in the Olympics light heavyweight division.

Hooper's path to a possible medal was made tougher on yesterday when he was left out of the seeds despite coming into the London Games ranked third in the world in the category.

Abnett was at a loss to explain the ruling, admitting surprise another medal contender in German Enrico Kolling was also not among the seeds.

''We were told it [the seedings] would be clarified before the draw of each weight division … it doesn't give us much chance to protest or question it,'' Abnett said. ''I was surprised, I don't know the reason behind it but it's pretty hard to fight it.

''Three weeks ago he was ranked two and they put him to three.

''Obviously it's important to us because if they [are seeded] and get the bye in the first round it gives us nearly an extra week to prepare, so it alters our training around a little bit.''

Australian welterweight Cameron Hammond will fight Moustapha Abdoulaye Hima today, while Abnett is particularly excited about Luke Jackson's hopes not only against China's Qiang Liu, but also his chances of progressing.

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