2007 World Championships preview at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in men’s Greco-Roman wrestling

Last year, two of the World's top Greco-Roman wrestlers met in the finals of the World Championships at 120 kg, 2004 Olympic champion Khassan Baroev of Russia and 2005 World champion Mijial Lopez of Cuba. Baroev won the battle of the stars, earning his third career World-level title, which includes a 2003 World gold medal. Since then, Baroev has won the European Championships gold medal, bringing additional momentum into the competition.

Lopez has won two more gold medals this spring, with victories at the Pan American Games and the Pan American Championships. Prior to 2005, Lopez showed great potential, but was unable to win a medal at either the 2004 Olympic Games or the three previous World Championships. It seems that Lopez has taken a step ahead of most of the rest of the field here, and a rematch with Baroev is very possible.

2002 World champion Dremiel Byers of the United States returns for another shot at winning a World medal. He was eighth at the 2006 World meet and did not place at the 2005 World Championships. Byers has had many close battles with Lopez in continental competition, but has had difficulty beating his Cuban rival. Byers has skill, experience and great throwing abilities, but to be a champion again must be in top condition and competing at his best.

Four-time World silver medalist Mihaly Deak-Bardos of Greece fell out of the medal rounds last year at the World meet in China, placing fifth. Deak-Bardos may be the best wrestler in the world never to win a gold medal at this level. At 33 years old, it will be a difficult challenge for Deak-Bardos to get that missing gold, but with his experience, the opportunity exists for him to finally reach that goal.

Both of last year's World bronze medalists, Ismail Guzel of Turkey and Sergei Artsiukin of Belarus, return seeking another medal. Guzel was third at the European Championships this year, but Artsiukin was unable to earn a medal in that competition.

Georgia Tsurtsumia of Kazakhstan, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, did not earn a place at last year's World Championships and was fifth at the 2005 World meet. He has not wrestled often in recent years, but is listed as his nation's entry and is capable of winning a medal because of his talent and experience.

David Vala of the Czech Republic was the European silver medalist this year and Jalmar Sjoberg of Sweden won a European bronze medal as well. Last year, Sjoberg was fifth at the World meet and Vala placed eighth. Neither has won a World medal on the Senior level in their careers, but both are very capable. Sjoberg was a 2005 Junior World champion.

Liu Deli of China, the 2007 Asian champion, is expected to compete, as as Asian silver medalist Ahmad Sharabaiani of Iran.

Mindaugus Mitzgaitis of Lithuania, who placed in the top 10 at the World meet the last two seasons, reached as high as fourth at the 2003 World Championships.

With three past World champions in the field, Khassan Baroev of Russia, Mijial Lopez of Cuba and Dremiel Byers of the United States, this division has considerable star power. Four-time World silver medalist Mihaly Deak-Bardos is always a threat, as is 2004 Olympic silver medalist Georgi Tsurtsumia of Kazkahstan. Throw in some exciting young talents, and this weight class should be a tremendous battle in Baku.

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2006 World Championships results
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Gold - Khasan Baroev (Russia); Silver - Mijian Lopez (Cuba); Bronze - Sergei Artsiukin (Belarus); Bronze - Ismail Guzel (Turkey); 5th - Jalmar Sjoberg (Sweden); 5th - Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary); 7th - Masoud Hashemzadeh (Iran); 8th - David Vala (Czech Republic); 9th - Dremiel Byers (United States); 10th - Mizgaitis Mindaugas (Lithuania)

2005 World Championships results
120 kg/264.5 lbs.- Gold - Mijial Lopez (Cuba); Silver - Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary); Bronze - Sergei Artsiukin (Belarus); Bronze - Yetka Yilmaz (Turkey); 5th - Georgi Tsursumia (Kazakhstan); 5th - Mindaugas Mizgaitis (Lithuania); 7th - Juha Ahokas (Finland); 8th - Kostayantyn Stryzhak (Ukraine); 9th - David Vala (Czech Republic); 10th - Serguei Mourieko (Bulgaria)

2004 Olympic Games results
120 kg/264.5 lbs.- Gold - Khassan Baroev (Russia); Silver - Gerogiy Tsurtsumia (Kazakhstan); Bronze - Rulon Gardner (USA); 4th - Sajad Barzi (Iran); 5th -Mijail Lopez (Cuba); 6th - Yannick Szcepaniak (France); 7th - Xenofan Koutsioumpas (Greece); 8th - Serguey Moreyko (Bulgaria); 9th - Haykaz Galstyan (Armenia); 10th - Mihaly Bardos-Deak (Hungary)

2003 World Championships results
264.5 - Gold - Khassan Baroev (Russia) dec. Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary), 3-1; Bronze - Georgiy Tsurtsumia (Kazakhstan) dec. Mindaugas Mizgaitis (Lithuania), 4-0; 5th - Xenofon Koutsioubas (Greece); 6th - Serguey Moreyko (Bulgaria); 7th - Juha Ahokas (Finland) ; 8th - Yannick Szcezepaniak (France); 9th - Haykaz Ghalstyan (Armenia); 10th - Rulon Gardner (USA)

2002 World Championships results
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Gold - Dremiel Byers (United States) dec. Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary), 3-0; Bronze - Yuri Patrikeev (Russia) dec. Xenofon Koutsioubas (Greece), 9-4; 5th - Helger Hallik (Estonia); 6th -Yuriy Yevseychek (Israel); 7th - Giuseppe Giunta (Italy); 8th - Georgiy Tsurtsumia (Kazakhstan); 9th - Roe Kleive (Norway); 10th - Nico Schmidt (Germany)

2001 World Championships results
130 kg/286 lbs. - Gold - Rulon Gardner (United States) won by ref. dec. over Mihaly Deak-Bardos (Hungary), 2-0, ot; Bronze - Xenofon Koutsoubas (Greece) dec. Sergei Mourieko (Bulgaria), 8-0; 5th - George Tsurtsumia (Georgia); 6th - Mijain Lopez (Cuba); 7th - Eddy Bengtsson (Sweden); 8th - Yuri Patrikeev (Russia); 9th - Alireza Gharibi (Iran); 10th - David Vala (Czech Republic)