Olympic Boxing 2012: Top 5 Performing Nations at London Games

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Boxing at the 2012 London Olympics was memorable, for both good and bad reasons.

Female boxing made its Olympic debut and didn't disappoint, proving itself as an event that should have been included long ago.

Meanwhile, officiating controversy was rampant and numerous protests were filed. Two decisions were eventually overturned on appeal.

Through it all, there were some nations that showed themselves as world powers in the sport. Here are the top five nations from the Olympic boxing events. 

5. Kazakhstan

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Kazakhstan is more than just the world's top exporter of potassium (as claimed by Borat).

They also have some pretty tough fighters, winning four medals. Their lone gold medal came from welterweight southpaw Serik Sapiyev, one of the oldest fighters in the tournament at 28.

Sapiyev defeated the host nation's Freddie Evans 19-7 to win his first Olympic medal. The former world champion suffered a disappointing early exit in Beijing, but got his redemption this time around. The nation also won a silver and two bronze medals.

4. Cuba

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The isolated island nation brought home two gold and two bronze. The gold-medal performances came from Roniel Iglesias in the men's welterweight and Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana in the men's flyweight division.

Ramirez Carrazana, just 18 years old, defeated world champion silver medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar of Mongolia 17-14 in the gold-medal bout. Iglesias, who won the Cuban national title at age 16 and took bronze in Beijing, took down Ukraine's Denys Berinchyk 22-15 in his final bout. 

3. Russia

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Russia won the most medals with six, which surely lands them on the list... Just not at the top. There was only one gold, coming from Egor Mekhontsev in the men's light heavyweight division. He narrowly won it, needing a second tiebreaker to beat Kazakh fighter Adilbek Niyazymbetov.

Two silver medals and three bronze rounded out an Olympics-leading six-medal performance for the Russians.

2. Ukraine

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Vasyl Lomachenko is considered pound-for-pound the best amateur fighter in the world, and he didn't disappoint with a 19-9 victory over South Korea's Soon-Chul Han in the men's lightweight title bout.

The Ukraine also took gold in the men's heavyweight thanks to Oleksandr Usyk's 14-11 decision over Italian Clemente Russo. In his three Olympic bouts, Usyk outscored opponents 52-29. The Ukraine also added a silver and two bronze medals to its haul.

1. Great Britain

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The host nation led the gold-medal count with three winners: Nicola Adams in the women's flyweight, Luke Campbell in the men's bantamweight and Anthony Joshua in the men's super heavyweight. 

Joshua beat Italian Roberto Cammarelle in Sunday's title match on a tiebreaker after an 18-18 deadlock. A ridiculous athlete, Joshua once ran the 100-meter dash in 11 seconds as a 15-year-old. Not bad for a super heavyweight. He had to work hard for his medal, winning by less than three points in each of his four bouts.

Campbell defeated Irishman John Joe Nevin 14-11 in the title bout, making good on his decision to turn down professional contracts to win an Olympic medal. Adams, meanwhile, took down Chinese favorite Ren Cancan 16-7.

A gold and a bronze rounded out a British showing that the host nation's fans can raise a pint to.