Light-Welterweight (≤63.5 kilograms), Men

Of the 11 weight divisions contested at the 1980 Olympic Games 10 were won by boxers from communist countries. The one exception came at light-welterweight where Patrizio Oliva, the Italian champion from Napoli, emerged triumphant. Oliva’s major obstacle was Serik Konakbayev of the USSR who had defeated the Italian in the European Championship before travelling to the USA to win the 1979 World Cup. While Konakbayev had a trouble free progression through the rounds, Oliva was lucky to survive a meeting with Ace Rusevski of Yugoslavia in the last eight. With two judges splitting their votes, the Italian only progressed when the fifth judge, who had the fight even, gave him his preferential vote. Despite being roared on by a partisan Muscovite crowd, on this occasion Konakbayev was unable to figure out the awkward style of the Italian bank clerk. Oliva was declared champion on a 4-1 split decision of the judges with the dissenting vote coming from the Bulgarian judge. As the verdict was declared the Italian slumped to his knees and started weeping. He was awarded the Val Barker Trophy for best boxer of the tournament on the strength of his performances. Konabakyev continued his winning ways as an amateur and retained both his European and World Cup title. As Soviet champion he may well have been picked for the 1984 Olympic if not for the Communist boycott. Oliva, in contrast, began a professional career that was highlighted by both European and world title reigns.