Master Kindelan stops pupil Khan's great run

Mario Kindelan stopped the amazing run of British teenager Amir Khan by outpointing him in the lightweight final of the Olympic boxing tournament on Sunday.

Cuban master Mario Kindelan stopped the amazing run of British teenager Amir Khan by outpointing him in the lightweight final of the Olympic boxing tournament on Sunday.

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Khan, 17, was trying to become the youngest boxer to win an Olympic boxing gold medal in over 50 years but Kindelan had other ideas.

Nearly twice Khan's age at 33, the defending champion relied on his greater experience to counter-punch methodically and win a 30-22 decision.

Khan, who fought bravely but seemed a bit nervous, leaves Athens with the silver medal but a bright future ahead.

The Briton, who had advanced to the final with stunning displays, was 4-3 ahead after the first round and then kept taking the battle to the seasoned Cuban but it was not enough.

There was plenty of hugging between the pair after a spectacular final and a pat on the back from the Cuban coach for Khan, as a reward to his unique talent.

"It could have gone either way but I tried my best and I've got a silver medal," Khan told BBC television.

"He (Kindelan) is the best boxer I've seen for a long time. It's a shame I didn't beat him but never mind."

Also trying to become the youngest boxer to win an Olympic boxing title since American Floyd Patterson in 1952 was Turkey's Atagun Yalcinkaya, who is six days younger than Khan.

He, too, failed, losing on points to Cuba's Yan Bhartelemy in the light-flyweight final earlier on Sunday.

Guillermo Rigondeaux extended a fine overall performance from the mighty Cuban squad when he defended his bantamweight title by easily outpointing Thailand's Worapoj Petchkoom.

With one fighter still to appear in Sunday's finals, Cuba had already won five golds, topping their tally of four from each of the last two Games.