Tag Archives: Colorado Springs

amatör boxning, boxning, USA Boxning

World Class domare….. Tom Cleary USA Boxing Alumni Association, Klass av 2018 inductee

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Lap. (November 12, 2018) – Den sena Tom Cleary var en av de mest respekterade domarna i världen under sin lysande karriär. Han ansluter sig till en utvald grupp i klassificera av 2018 få invald i USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

Den andra årliga USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception, hålls i samband med 2018 USA Boxing Elite och Ungdom nationella mästerskap och Junior och Prep Open, December 2-8, kommer att hållas December 7, på Radisson Hotel (215 S. Temple St.) i Salk Lake City, Utah.

 

 

 

Förutom Cleary, klassificera av 2018 innefattar även US. OS-laget medaljörer och världen (professionell) mästare Roy Jones, Jr., Andre Ward och Claressa Shields, samt en tidigare USA Boxing National Director of Coaching, den sena Emanuel Steward.

 

 

 

Stadgan klassen invald förra året ingår Muhammad Ali och Evander Holyfield, samt erfarna tränare Roosevelt Sanders och Tom Coulter.

 

 

 

En longtime bosatt i Westchester, Ohio, Cleary var medlem USA boxning sedan 1982, och tjänstgjorde han som chef för tjänstemän för National Collegiate Boxing Association från 2002 tills hans bortgång maj 21, 2017.

 

 

 

Han refererade in 12 olika länder, på fyra kontinenter, som en internationell officiella delas av AIBA. Tom tog en tre stjärnor och han valdes att arbeta World Series of Boxing.

 

 

 

“Tom engagemang för amatörboxning och respekt han samlat från boxare, tränare och andra tjänstemän är oöverträffad,” sa Chris tofflemire, USA Boxing Alumni Association verkställande direktör. “Alumni Association stödde eftertryck hans fall för Hall of Fame, och hans induktion fått både av dem nära honom, liksom hela amatörboxning gemenskap. Tom engagemang att tjäna USA boxning ger ett bra exempel för oss alla och vi kunde inte stoltare att kalla honom en medlem av årets Hall of Fame klass.”

 

 

 

Tom glömde aldrig var han kom ifrån, avsatt otaliga timmar till ungdomar i Cincinnati, Förutom att hjälpa boxningsklubbar köras effektivt genom sitt samhälle i mer än ett kvarts sekel.

 

 

 

Den 2017 NCBA officiella of the Year, Tom arbetade lokal, regional, nationell, Internationell, världen och OS-nivåer av boxning. Höjdpunkter ingår arbetar många US. SM, fyra U.S.. Olympic Trials (2000, 2004, 2008 & 2012) och 2007 VM i Chicago.

 

 

 

“När jag var ung tränare på Air Force Academy,” USA Boxing coach Ed Weichers kommenterade, “vi behövde för att ersätta en AIBA top notch domare som avgick. Vi letade efter en mycket kvalificerad person och Tom Cleary rekommenderades. Han kom ut nästa 25 år raka. Tom var en av de bästa domarna. Han brydde sig så mycket om säkerheten för boxare och Tom var också en värdefull mentor.

 

 

 

“Tom var en underbar människa som alla älskade. Han administrerade domaren kliniker i USA och alltid hjälpt behövande, ungdomar och vuxna. Tom arbete i Cincinnati området påverkat så många boxare och tränare för mer än 25 år. Vi saknar dyrt honom.”

 

 

 

USA Boxing Alumni Association

 

Skapad att kämpa en livslång, ömsesidigt gynnsamma relationer mellan USA boxning och dess alumner, –boxare, tjänstemän, tränare och boxning fans — Alumni Association ansluter generationer av champions, inspirerande och ge tillbaka till USA Boxning framtida boxning mästare, in och ut ur ringen.

 

 

 

USA Boxing Alumni Association är öppet för alla som har en kärlek till boxning och vill hålla kontakten med amatörboxning. Medlemmar får tillgång till ett brett utbud av specialevenemang värd av Alumni Association, inklusive USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame mottagning.

 

 

 

För att delta i Alumni Association, helt enkelt registrera vid alumni@usaboxing.org för en $40.00 per år medlemsavgift. Nya medlemmar får en T-shirt, nyckelring och e-plånbok.

 

 

 

 

Tom efterlämnar sin fru, Diane, deras två barn och åtta barnbarn.

 

 

 

Tom Cleary ledarskap och mentor-fartyg inspirerade alla som hade turen att träffa honom. Han brydde sig passionerat om boxarna han delade ringen med, erbjuda ord råd innan, under och efter bouts.

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

amatör boxning, boxning, USA Boxning

Otha Jones III konkurrerar på sommaren ungdoms-OS Buenos Aires 2018

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Straight outta Toledo….
Oktober. 6-18 i Argentina

COLORADO SPRINGS, Lap. (Oktober 4, 2018) – Två-time USA National Champion Otha Jones III är på väg till Argentina i morgon för att göra ett uttalande på sommaren ungdoms-OS Buenos Aires, Oktober 6-18 Park Sports Center i Roca.

 

 

 

Jones är från det nya hemmet av amatörboxning mästare, Toledo, Ohio, där 18-åriga Jones gör också en skillnad i sitt samhälle, särskilt efter hans bror sköts och dödades för några veckor sedan när han cykla.

 

 

 

Otha först fick intresserade av boxning efter att ha sett en YouTube boxning sensation. “Jag trodde det var kallt,” ljus weltervikt Jones förklarade, “så jag frågade min far att ta mig till ett gym. Jag lärde mig snart att jag var bra på det, jobbade hårt, och nu är jag på väg till OS i ungdoms.

 

 

 

“Kämpar på alla gym i Toledo hjälpa varandra. (2017 USA Nationals tungvikt) jared Anderson är min bästa vän. Det första året tränade vi på samma gym, men jag har aldrig sparred med honom (skrattar), eftersom han är för stor för mig. Vi är på olika gym nu. Sex Toledo boxare, fem av mina lagkamrater, är i USA Boxing program, inklusive min syster, (weltervikt) Oshae Jones, som är på damernas elitstyrka tävlar just nu i Spanien. Vi driva varandra till det yttersta.”

 

 

 

Förutom att fånga guld i de två senaste USA SM, Han vann också toppriser på 2018 Ungdoms Kontinentala mästerskap, plus en silvermedalj vid 2018 Emil Jechev Memorial Tournament.

 

 

 

Beskriver sig själv som en oortodox boxare lagare, Jones säger att han, “Kastar slag från alla vinklar. Jag kan rutan bra eller sitta och slåss om jag måste.”

 

 

 

Jones, som har en 267-11 amatör rekord, har redan rest och tävlade i Bulgarien, Ungern och Ryssland. Han ser fram emot att uppleva Argentina, där han kommer att leva och träna under två veckor i en olympisk by atmosfär.

 

 

 

“Att göra det här långt till Youth Olympic, än så länge, är höjdpunkten i min karriär,” sa han. “Jag älskar att resa till olika länder för att uppleva och lära sig om nya kulturer. Mitt mål är att kämpa på 2020 OS i Japan och vinna en guldmedalj. Jag behöver förbättra mina kunskaper; punch hårdare och placera mina slag bättre.

 

 

 

“Efter OS, Jag planerar att bli proffs. Jag vill flytta min familj ut ur gettot och få bättre kläder och måltider för alla.

 

 

 

“Jag äger Soul City Gym med min bror och pappa. En hel del barn i Toledo har ingenting att göra. Vi går på sociala medier för att berätta dessa barn att komma med gymmet för att komma i form. Vi är en del av ett program som matar dessa barn. Vi anser att, mindre tid på gatan, Vi kan hjälpa till att stoppa våldet, som min bror dödas. Vi försöker få barnen från gatorna och i gymmet.”

 

 

Otha Jones III (blå)

 

 

 

 

Jones noterade också att han verkligen har utbildning i Colorado Springs, inte bara på grund av de utestående anläggningar och coaching, men för hans sinnesfrid.

 

 

 

“Jag trodde jag var i toppform utbildning i Toledo,” jones tillsatt, “men du kommer hit, och luften är annorlunda. Efter utbildning vid havsnivå, du trött utbildning här. Jag älskar det här. Det finns så många fina byggnader och anläggningar, det är som en liten stad, bara utan brott. Jag kan vara mig själv här.”

 

 

 

Otha Jones, III gör genomslag i och ut ur ringen, om han är hemma i Toledo, utbildning i Colorado Springs, eller konkurrerande runt om i världen.

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

amatör boxning, boxning, USA Boxning

USA Boxing Alumni Association Profile: 1972 Olympic Bronze Medalist JESSE VALDEZ

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(L-R) – Austin Trout, Jesse Valdez, Raphael Marquez and B.J. Blommor

COLORADO SPRINGS, Lap. (Oktober 5, 2018) — 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Jesse Valdez, who was an outstanding amateur boxer, never turned pro because he chose security for his family rather than take a risk and parlay his amateur pedigree into a prize fighting career.

 

 

 

Valdez first went to the local Boys’ Club when he was 11. The youngest of seven children in a low-income family, headed by his single mother, in which the kids all slept in one bedroom, girls in a bed, boys on the floor, sharing space with cockroaches.

 

 

 

“I started going to the club and I guess I did well because I started beating older and bigger guys,” Valdez remembered. One day a coach asked me if I was interested in learning how to box. Vid 11, USA Boxing people were interested in me, not me the boxer, and they always gave me guidance. Because of my background, I knew I wouldn’t be going to college, and these people helped me and gave me guidance.

 

 

 

I 1964, 16-year-old Valdez upset Olympic bronze medalist Quincey Daniels at the National AAU Championship in the welterweight division, and later that year he qualitied for the U.S. Olympic Team as an alternate. Valdez captured a gold medal at the1967 National Golden Gloves in the light middleweight weight class and he added a bronze medal from the prestigious Pan-American Games.

 

 

 

“I wanted to be a better boxer and that (defeating Daniels) also helped me become a better person. I had never traveled outside of Texas before then. I went to the Regionals and Nationals and then I was asked if I wanted to go to East Africa. All I knew about Africa was Tarzan, Jane and Cheetah. In high school, I was offered college scholarships, but my grades were bad because I spent more time out than in school. I didn’t have a father figure.”

 

 

 

While he served in the U.S. Air Force, Valdez won a gold medal at the 1970 National AAU Championship as a light middleweight and two years later, he became the 1972 National Golden Gloves welterweight champion. A USA Olympic Team alternate for the second time in 1968, the third time was the charm for Valdez, who qualified for the 1972 US. Olympic Boxing Team by defeating future world champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.

 

 

 

“My dream came true in 1964,” Valdez noted. “I was a USA Olympic Team alternate in 1964 and again in 1968. But in 1972, I wanted to win a gold medal, even though I ended up with bronze.”

 

 

 

Valdez became a household name in America because his Olympic fights in Munich, Tyskland, aired live on ABC Wide World of Sports, the award-winning Saturday afternoon show during the seventies, when legendary announcer Howard Cosell took a shine to Valdez. Olyckligtvis, Jessie was eliminated in the semifinals by the eventual gold medalist, Emilio Correa, by way of a controversial decision, and Jesse settled for a bronze medal.

 

 

 

Den 1972 OS, emellertid, is sadly remembered for the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group, Black September.

 

 

 

“The Olympic village was built in a circle,” Valdez explained. “There were athletes everywhere from all around the world. My roommate and I had a routine after eating. We walked to digest our food and that night we started to walk, when guards with guns and rifles wouldn’t let anybody go past them. We didn’t know why and didn’t speak German. We then asked our coaches what had happened, and they said people were shot that afternoon. Senare, we saw what happened on television.

 

 

 

“I was team captain and all the captains from every sport were asked what the athletes wanted to do, continue (competing) or go home. We decided to go on because, if we had stopped, that’s what they (terrorists) wanted. The Olympics were halted one day for a memorial recognizing those who had died.”

 

 

TEAM USA vs. TEAM GERMANY, Oktober. 6 & 12 in CHATTANOOGA

 

 

 

Team USA and Team Germany, two of the world’s top amateur boxing programs, will meet in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for two separate duels taking place Saturday, Oktober 6 and Friday, Oktober. 12, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

 

 

 

The duels will feature some of the top male and female elite boxers as they prepare for the lead up to the Olympics in 2020. The two events will take place alongside this year’s Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships, which is expected to have more than 650 boxare, aged 8-40, compete from Oct. 8-13.

 

 

 

 

After the 1972 OS, promoters lined-up to offer Valdez a pro contract, but he quickly turned down all offers having other options as well. He could have remained in the Air Force and been a coach. Istället, he accepted an offer from a Houston television station that wanted to benefit from hiring the Olympic bronze medalist returning home. Valdez became a reporter and the station’s ratings immediately went up, but other reporters became jealous and that became a problem for Jesse. I början, he contemplated a return to the Air Force, but Valdez liked working in television and he became a photo journalist until he retired in 2005.

 

 

 

Why not take advantage of his fame as an Olympic bronze medalist and turn pro?

 

 

 

“När jag var 14 eller 15 there were pros training at the gym I went to after school,” Valdez explained, “There was one professional boxer there I really liked and looked up to. He was a world champion, who will remain nameless, and I watched him work out. I’ll never forget, he asked me if he could borrow $1.00. I didn’t even have a nickel and that really opened my eyes. Here was a world champion asking me for money. It stuck in my mind. I took a job as a reporter because I really needed (medicinsk) benefits.

 

 

 

“I try to go to clubs and help amateurs, but I don’t watch pro fights.”

 

USA Boxing Alumni Association

 

 

 

Skapad att kämpa en livslång, ömsesidigt gynnsamma relationer mellan USA boxning och dess alumner, –boxare, tjänstemän, tränare och boxning fans — Alumni Association ansluter generationer av champions, inspirerande och ge tillbaka till USA Boxning framtida boxning mästare, in och ut ur ringen.

 

 

 

USA Boxing Alumni Association är öppet för alla som har en kärlek till boxning och vill hålla kontakten med amatörboxning. Medlemmar får tillgång till ett brett utbud av specialevenemang värd Alumni Association, inklusive dess årliga USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.

 

 

 

För att delta i Alumni Association, helt enkelt registrera vid alumni@usaboxing.org för en $40.00 per år medlemsavgift. Nya medlemmar får en T-shirt, nyckelring och e-plånbok.

 

 

 

 

Nu 70, the Mexican-American from Houston has never regretted the decision he made nearly a half-century ago, eller, Naturligtvis, his experience at the 1972 OS. Jesse Valdez has become a valued speaker for the USA Boxing Alumni Association.

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

amatör boxning, boxning, USA Boxning

USA vs. Germany Duels to take place in Chattanooga alongside Eastern Qualifier

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World medalist and Olympic Hopefuls to step into the ring on American soil

COLORADO SPRINGS, Lap. (September 17, 2018) — Two of the world’s top amateur boxing powerhouses will meet in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for two separate duels taking place Saturday, Oktober 6 and Friday, Oktober. 12, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

 

 

 

The duels will feature some of the top male and female elite boxers from both the United States and Germany, as they prepare for the lead up to the Olympics in 2020. The two events will take place alongside this year’s Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships, which is expected to have more than 650 boxare, aged 8-40, compete from Oct. 8-13.

 

 

 

“We are excited to host the German Federation, as they have hosted us numerous times for training camps over the past two years,” said USA Boxing High Performance Director Matt Johnson. “This will be a great competition and a great opportunity for USA Boxing to showcase our next generation of Olympic hopefuls on home soil.”

 

 

 

Team USA is expected to bring a talented team that will include multiple World Championship medalists, Inklusive 2017 Elite World Championship medalists Troy Isley (Alexandria, Va.), Duke Ragan (Cincinnati, Ohio) och Freudis Rojas Jr.. (Las Vegas, Nev.), as well as two-time World Championship medalist Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.), 2016 Youth World Champion delante Johnson (Cleveland, Ohio) och 2016 Ungdoms-VM bronsmedalj Richard Torrez Jr. (Tulare, Calif.)

 

 

 

Other boxers anticipated to compete for Team USA include international medalists Khalil Coe (Jersey City, New Jersey), Keyshawn Davis (Norfolk, Va.), Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas), Oshae Jones (Toledo, Ohio), Quinton Randall (Katy, Texas) och Stacia Suttles(Brooklyn, N.Y.). These boxers are subject to change, and a full roster for both teams will be released closer to the start of the duels.

 

 

 

Boxers who are competing at the Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships are eligible for an early check-in on Saturday, Oktober. 6 for the qualifier and will receive free entrance to that night’s duel. Coaches who pre-register for the Qualifier and complete early check-in will also receive free entrance to that night’s event.

 

 

 

Check USABoxing.org for updates on the event in the coming weeks.

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

 

OM USA BOXING: The mission of USA Boxing shall be to enable United States’ athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence, utveckla karaktär, stödja boxningssporten, and promote and grow Olympic style boxing in the United States. The responsibility of USA Boxing is not only to produce Olympic gold, but also oversee and govern every aspect of amateur boxing in the United States.

amatör boxning, USA Boxning

Team USA’s newest boxing star Light heavyweight Khalil Coe

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(L-R) – USA head coach Billy Walsh, USA National assistant coach Kay Koroma, Khalil Coe and coach Jeff Mays

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Juli 9, 2018) – A star was born last month at the 45th Chemistry Cup in Halle, Tyskland, when American light heavyweight Khalil Coe shocked the amateur boxing world, stopping Cuban’s multiple world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz in the opening round of the championship final match.

 

 

 

Nästan 100 boxers represented 16 different countries at the Chemistry Cup, Inklusive, Ryssland, Ukraina, Irland, India and host Germany, in addition to the United States and Cuba.

 

 

 

The 21-year-old Coe, who was boxing in only his 25th match, his first on the International scene, stole the show and he was named Most Outstanding Boxer of the tournament. In the semifinals, Coe knocked out Matus Strnisko, of Slovakia, i den första omgången.

 

VOTE FOR KHALIL COE

 

Khalil Coe is a candidate for the USOC Best Male Athlete of the Month for June. Voting ends this evening at https://awards.teamusa.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coe respected but he wasn’t intimidated by his much more experienced opponent, 2016 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion La Cruz, who had one less fight in the World Boxing Series than Cue did during his entire amateur career.

 

 

 

“My first fight in the tournament was the hardest I’d had,” Coe explained. “I studied him (La Cruz) a lot and watched him fight in the semifinals (defeating three-time European champion Joseph Ward (Irland), which was right after my semifinals fight. Han (La Cruz) is very elusive and flashy, but he doesn’t like to get hit in the body. He moves his body, but he forgets about his head. I pulled him, on him, moving around with my footwork and shuffling. He threw a lazy jab and I hit him right on the chin with a right.”

 

 

 

Coe’s short, compact right-hand punch landed right on the button, dropping La Cruz a little less than two-minutes into round one. The Cuban beat the count, but the referee ruled that he was unable to continue. La Cruz was still “Mannen” in the light heavyweight division and by knocking him out, Coe proved that he truly belongs with the elite, and that the No. 1-rated American is the fighter to beat in terms of qualifying for the 2020 US. Olympiska lag.

 

 

 

“I let everybody know that I’m here,” Coe added. “I still need to work on a lot of different things. I need to throw more combinations, keep by stamina up, and improve everything to be better. I’m more of a pure boxer, but I have strength and punching power. Coach (Billy)Walsh doesn’t change his fighters, he adds to what they have. The coaches put together a fight plan and I executed it.”

 

 

 

“Khalil’s performances in Germany were world class,” Team USA head coach Walsh said, “To be truly world class, we now have to repeat those performances regularly, and that’s where the challenge lies.”

 

 

 

On this year’s USA vs. Ireland Northeast Tour, Coe was 2-0 against his Irish counterparts in Boston and Springfield

 

 

 

Coe often got into fights in school, until his mother sent him to a local gym, and his first amateur bout was when he was 12. If he wasn’t boxing right now, the 6′ 1″ Coe believes he would probably be playing college football, as a fullback or defensive end.

 

 

 

Close with his USA teammates, particularly Keyshawn Davis, Coe lives and trains with them in Colorado Springs. “We’re more than a team,” the Jersey City, New Jersey boxer concluded, “we’re like a family – killar, gals and coaches — in Colorado Springs.

 

 

 

“I’m going to turn pro after the Olympics, one way or the other, God-willing, after I win a gold medal.”

 

 

 

Tokyo is legitimately in Khalil Coe’s sights!

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

 

boxning, USA Boxning

Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger successfully transitioned from amateur to pro boxing

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Lap. (Juni 13, 2018) — Hall of Fame referee Steve “Double S” Smoger, arguably the most recognizable and respected official in boxing history, holds the unique distinction of officiating in more states and countries than any of his peers.

 

 

 

Smoger ranks among the top six all-time, LÅT BLI. 2 amerikan, in terms of most pro boxing matches officiated (1015), including an incredible 220 world time matches. He has been a referee in some of the greatest boxing matches ever – Vernon Forrest-Shane Mosley, Bernard Forrest-Felix Trinidad, Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor, Roy Jones, Jr.-Hopkins, Micky Ward-Emanuel Burton, Andre Ward-Carl Froch and Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito II among the most notable.

 

 

 

Också, Smoger has refereed matches featuring a Who’s Who of Boxing: Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield. Roberto Duran, Hector Camacho Sr., James Toney, Mike McCallum, Vinny Paz, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Arturo Gatti, Felix Trinidad, Diego Corrales, Gennadij Golovkin, Lucia Rijker, Christy Martin and so many others..

 

 

 

In addition to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Smoger has also been inducted into four other Hall of Fames in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Atlantic City.

 

 

 

As a youngster, Smoger got hooked on boxing, primarily because his father was an “awesome fan”, who religiously watched the popular Friday night boxing series, Gillette Cavalcade of Sports, with his son. Steve’s father told him that boxing was the last version of will and skill, one-on-one, to determine the better man that night.

 

 

 

Smoger said he was too small to play football, too short for basketball, so he became a cross-country runner in high school. A friend invited Smoger to the local YMCA in New Jersey to get checkout its boxing program. Only one day working with a pro boxer was enough for Steve to realize that being a boxer wasn’t for him. But he still loved boxing.

 

 

 

After he started refereeing amateur matches in southern New Jersey and Delaware, Smoger got the break of his life that dramatically changed his life. “Everything in life is timing,” Smoger explained. “The gentleman who gave George Foreman the small American that he proudly waved after winning a gold medal at the 1968 OS, Pat Duffy, opened a gym in southern Jersey. I told him that I wanted to train as a referee. I trained under the great Frank Cappuccino and then had to honor to train with Zach Clayton. He trained to music so referees moved without being herky-jerky. I 1978, I started officiating then-AAU boxing and worked out of the Atlantic City PAL gym, which remains a vibrant amateur boxing club. I’m still there 40 years later, serving on its Board of Directors, and I’m also its legal counsel.

 

 

 

“Sedan, the boxing gods shined on me. Casinos were coming to Atlantic City in 1978 and boxing was involved at all the casinos there. I was the district attorney in Atlantic City, so after work I went to the PAL gym to workout with the kids. En dag, the phone rang in the gym. Nobody else was there, so I answered. It was the New Jersey Boxing Commissioner, ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott, who asked me who was in charge. I said that, vid denna tidpunkt, I was in charge. He said there was a pro show that night and they were short of inspectors. He said that they need somebody to watch the hand wrapping. I told him I was well versed in hand wrapping and that was it, I was hired to work that show and they gave me the royal treatment.”

 

 

 

“Walcott’s chief second was Chief Roy Johnson, who Walcott brought into the state commission. He hired me in 1982 as a probationary referee. Två år senare, I was a licensed referee and, som de säger, the rest is history.”

 

 

 

Idag, Smoger is still a very active referee, traveling around the world to officiate, as well as co-chairman of the International Boxing Association (IBA) tjänstemän, and a valued USA Boxing Alumni Association advisor. Steve has made several appearances at Alumni Association gatherings across the country.

 

 

 

“I am honored to be the ‘unofficial’ representative of all officials who’ve made the transition from amateur to pro boxing,” Smoger commented. “I’m the only active referee (Alumni Association advisor) who made the transition from the amateur to the pro level.

 

 

 

“The accent has always been No. 1, on boxers, och nr. 2, tränare. USA Boxing is the best group I’ve ever been associated with and, for me personally, I’ve seen what amateur boxing does for kids in this country. They learn under difficult circumstances, through boxing, to successfully reach different levels in life. I enjoy watching the development of youths who go through the USA Boxing program and do very well.

 

 

 

“Boxing enables boxers. My accent is on youths, to watch them grow and develop, not turn pro, to better their lives.”

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing
amatör boxning, boxning, USA Boxning

Keyshawn Davis is Pushing His Way to the Top Norfolk, Kommer. native is 2020 Olympic hopeful for Team USA

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Lap. (Juni 8, 2018) Overcoming adversity is something many people deal with throughout their lives, and it makes that person who they are. For Keyshawn Davis, he has been overcoming adversity from the beginning, and he is now on his way to the top of the boxing world.

 

 

 

Davis began boxing when he was just nine-years-old, after his mother took him and two of his brothers to the gym. They were constantly fighting each other and fighting in school. After about an hour of watching two kids around his age spar his mother asked if they wanted to sign up. The next day Keyshawn and his two brothers were in the gym training.

 

 

 

Sedan dess, Davis has won numerous titles and is now on his first elite high-performance squad following his win at the 2017 USA Boxning SM. Following that win, he has made Colorado Springs, Lap. a second home, as he spends a great deal of his time training at the United States Olympic Training Center.

 

 

 

Training for his first year at the elite level began with one of the largest multi-nation training camps USA Boxing has ever hosted. Davis got the opportunity to spar with not only his American teammates, but boxers from Great Britain, New Zealand and Poland. The preparation led to one of his proudest moments of his young career, his first elite international tournament and title at the Strandja Tournament in Bulgaria.

 

 

 

“It was a very different experience, being that it was my first time out of the country,” stated Davis. “I really had to get used to the different environment, especially the time difference, as it threw off my sleep schedule at first.”

 

 

 

Emellertid, he did not let anything distract him from reaching the top of the podium.

 

 

 

“The feeling was just so unreal,” said Davis about his gold medal performance in Bulgaria. “I told myself that this is just one gold and I need to be standing here after every tournament. It was just a great feeling.”

 

 

 

Shortly after his winning performance in Bulgaria, Davis was back in the ring representing Team USA on the USA vs. IRL Northeast Boxing Tour. Only fighting in one of the three stops of the tour, Davis made every minute of it count, as he pulled off another impressive victory in front of a large number of American fans.

 

 

 

Emellertid, before the success came struggles.

 

 

 

“I am a kid from Norfolk, Kommer. that started with nothing; Just my mother and her five children,” stated Davis.

 

 

 

“As life went on, I kept getting better in the ring, but outside the ring was horrible, from anger problems to getting sent to a mental institution,” continued Davis. “I would’ve never thought I would be in the position I am today, so I thank God that he blessed me with all my supporters; from my sisters, Shanice and Shantel Davis, also my brothers, Keon and Kelvin Davis, and of course my mother, Wanda Davis. Without them I wouldn’t be here today. I am a walking miracle and I just want to show the world what Keyshawn Davis really can do.”

 

 

 

Helping Keyshawn get past his struggles has been his coach who has been there from the beginning, Kay Korma, samt 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson.

“Last year when I was put in the mental home, they were both right there pushing me to get back on track,” Davis stated. “They never gave up on me or doubted me. They always knew what I was capable of, even though I was in a bad place.”

 

 

 

Another source of motivation and help came from another teammate, Troy Isley, who has been there by his side getting to experience Keyshawn’s first year as an elite with him.

 

 

 

“Troy has been a huge help for me during my first year on the elite high-performance squad,” mentioned Davis. “He has been telling me what foods I might need on a trip to help me maintain weight.”

 

 

 

When Davis went to Bulgaria for his first international tournament, Troy was there representing Team USA with him. “He told me how he felt his first time fighting internationally, and I just took all his information and used it to my advantage.”

 

 

 

Now the goal is to continue training and being successful at the international level. He has hopes of becoming an Olympic Champion in 2020 and being able to give back to his family.

 

 

 

“My biggest motivation is just to give my family a better life.”

 

 

 

With one gold under his belt, Davis will look for his second international title at the 2018 Chemistry Cup later this month. You can continue to follow his journey to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics through social media via Instagram (@keyshawndavis1) or SnapChat (@key4999).

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

amatör boxning, boxning, USA Boxning

Finale of 2018 Youth Continental Championships is Golden for Team USA

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO (Maj 31, 2018) – The final night of the 2018 Youth Continental Championships saw the American delegation collect seven gold medals and three silvers, making their final medal count 11 golds, three silvers and one bronze at the week-long tournament that took place at the Hotel Elegante in Colorado Springs, Lap.

 

 

 

Two highlights of the championships included light heavyweight Alexis Espino (Las Vegas, Nev.) and heavyweight David Stevens (Läsning, Pa.) winning their second international title of 2018 by first-round knockouts. Espino took the gold over Puerto Rico’s Jancarmelo Nieves, while Stevens collected the title with his knockout against Andrews Salgado of Chile.

 

 

 

 

The final two females to box, bantamweight Heaven Garcia (Mt., Calif.) and lightweight Isamary Aquino (San Antonio, Texas), defeated Emilia Dermott of Canada and Jennifer Yazmin Carrillo of Mexico, respectfully, to add two gold medals to the four the women’s team won on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

The final three gold medals were picked up by lightweight Harley Mederos (New York, N.Y.), light welterweight Otha Jones III (Toledo, Ohio) and super heavyweight Drake Banks (Homosassa, Fla.). The trio defeated their opponents by unanimous decisions to give Team USA the top team of the tournament.

 

 

 

 

This week’s tournament brought 14 different countries to Olympic City USA looking to qualify to the Youth Olympic Games and Youth World Championships, both taking place later this year. Team USA was led by Junior and Youth National Team Head Coach Augie Sanchez (Las Vegas, Nev.), with Timothy Back (Cincinnati, Ohio), Nora Lopez (Richmond, Texas), Eliza Olson (Redwood City, Calif.) and Chadrick Wigle (Colorado Springs, Colo.) served as assistant coaches throughout the week.

 

 

 

 

Click here for complete results. https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing/Youth-Continental-Championships

 

 

INFORMATION:

www.usaboxing.org

Twitter: @USABoxing

Instagram: @USABoxing

Facebook: /USABoxing

 

amatör boxning, boxning

Sharahya-Taina Moreu to make USA Boxing Women’s Elite debut at home in Albuquerque

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2018 Western Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships
Hav. 6-10 at Albuquerque Convention Center

COLORADO SPRINGS, Lap. (Mars 1, 2018) – High school senior Sharahya-taina moreu, one of the top youth amateur boxers in the world, will make her USA Boxing in the Women’s Elite Division at home in Albuquerque, Mars 6-10, vid 2018 USA Boxing Western Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships.

The 18-year-old Moreu, who plans to attend community college next year, är en 2016 USA Boxing National Champion, in addition to a four-time Native American and 2014 Gene Lewis champion. She was a silver medalist at the 2015 Junior/Youth Open and 2014/2015 Junior Olympic championships.

Boxning, her father/coach, Yoruba Moreu, den sena Johnny Tapia helped her overcome the life-changing tragedy of her mother’s death in an automobile accident, forging a new path for her as a role model and 2020 Olympic hopeful. “I was only eight when my mother died,” Moreu remembered. “I was laying on her when the car-rolled and she was thrown through the back window. I was the first out of the card and on the freeway asking for help.

“I’m a better person because of that accident, fast. I början, I was regretful and angry, getting in fights and on a bad path. I got into boxing, tog ilska hantering, and became motivated. I didn’t realize that I’d become a role model until girls started asking me for advice. They do look up to me and some of them I now coach.”
Moreu started boxing at the age of 12 and Tapia, fem-tiden, mästare tre division världen, utöver 1983 och 1985 Nationell Golden Handskar mästare, had a tremendous impact on Sharahya-Taina that will remain in her heart and soul for life.
“We became like family,” Moreu said. “I början, he didn’t like girls boxing, so he worked me real hard. I was a good basketball player and he kept telling me to go play basketball. But he became a big person in my life, Jag tror, because I had lost my mother at such a young age. He helped me in and out of the ring in so many ways. Johnny Tapia was the nicest, most humble man I’ve ever met. We became family until the gym fell apart. He only coached me about eight months, but he taught me that boxing defines you as a person, in och ut ur ringen. I feel safe in the ring. I’m a better person because of Johnny and boxing.”

Style-wise, Sharahya-Taina preys on her opponents’ mistakes, adjusting in the ring the same as, she says, “Just like in life.” At 5′ 10″, Moreu has a distinct height and reach advantage over most of her middleweight opponents, using those attributes, her speed and stiff jab to relentlessly pile up points.

She strongly believes that, because of Claressa Shields‘ gold-medal performances in the 2012 och 2016 OS, the doors are open wider for women in boxing. “I saw an American woman do what Clarissa did and become a dominant force in boxing,” Moreu remarked. “(2016 US. Olympian and three-time USA Boxing National Champion)) Mikaela Mayer (3-0, 2 KOs as a pro) has helped a lot, alltför. She signed with a good promoter (Top Rank). Boxing is slowly getting better for woman, maybe not equal to men, but there are more girls boxing today than ever before and that’s a good sign.”

Fighting at home in the Western Qualifier has a special meaning for Moreu. “I thought fighting in Albuquerque would be a lot of pressure,” she admitted, “but there’s not much pressure on me because of all the support I’m receiving. It’s easy here. Albuquerque isn’t like a big city but it’s becoming a fight town.

“I like to travel and meet different people. Förra året, I represented to United States in India at the Youth Championships, and I saw another part of the world, how people trained and had different life styles. I’m turning 19 i maj, so this is my first-time boxing in an Elite tournament, and it’s great doing it in my hometown.

Moreu also credits her father for a large amount of her success in the ring and life. “He’s been a single parent, but he’s always been there doing his best for me as a father and coach,” Sharahya-Taina noted. “Most people don’t know that he’s Puerto Rican, my mother a Native American (Pueblo).”

Like most young, elite athletes, Sharahya-Taina has a dream. “2020 in the Olympics,” avslutade hon. “I want to establish myself as an amateur and eventually go pro and have a good career.”

INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
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Vito Mielnicki, Jr wins United States Junior National Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah

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Nutley, NJ (December 11, 2017)–This past week in Salt Lake City, Utah, Vito Mielnicki, Jr. captured the United States Junior National championship in the 145-pound division.
Mielnicki of Roseland, New Jersey moved up an unprecedented 10 weight classes where he competed at 106-pounds at the 2017 turnering, and defeated the number-two seed, Adam Calixto of Tampa, Florida in the semifinals. In the finals, Mielnicki defeated top seeded Obed Bartee-El of Huntsville, Alabama.
With the title, Mielnicki gained a spot in the 2018 United States Junior National Team, Where he will be heading to train with teammates on February 4th at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado to get ready for international competition.

Mielnicki is trained by Ahmad Elliot and Willie Moses, as well as strength and conditioning coach Fred Caruso.
Mielnicki is the son of the GH3 Promotions CEO Vito Mielnicki.