Heartache for Yafai in Beijing by Kevin Taylor Aug 16th 2008

Birmingham flyweight Khalid Yafai was beaten in his first contest in Beijing the Cuban Andry Laffita Hernandez 9-3 on points today. Yafai who lost to the same opponent in the Strandja Memorial semi-final in February started well and landed a couple of good body shots on the Cuban which weren't registered by the judges and went into the second just 1-0 down. Laffita, who was banned for a couple of year for taking steroids, started the second well and landed a couple of good rights in the first few seconds to take a three point lead. The southpaw fought in typical Cuban counter attacking style and dictated the pace and picked off Yafai as he came in, who picked up his first point just before the end of the round but found himself five points behind. Although Yafai tried to cut down the space in the third round he found the Cuban elusive and it was Laffita who picked up another point to led 7-1 after three rounds. Yafai started well in the fourth landing with a left hook and taking the fight to the Cuban, but Laffita showed good footwork and re-established his six point led with a good counter. Yafai tried to stamp some authority on the bout but fell short against the classy Cuban. At nineteen Yafai should use today's fight as a learning experience and focus on the 2012 London Games.

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