The US Olympic Boxing Team -- featuring Capitol Heights, MD's own Gary Russell, Jr. -- arrived in Colorado Springs, CO earlier this week to begin an 11-month training period to prepare for next month's world championships and the 2008 Olympic Games.
The 11-member team will be the first participants in boxing’s first resident program at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center in 20 years.
Here's part of an official USABoxing press release that mentions Russell:
Bantamweight Gary Russell, Jr. took the hard road to the U.S. Olympic team. After winning two national titles and World Championships bronze, Russell dropped a one-point decision in his first bout at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Yet Russell quickly bounced back, winning six straight bouts in Houston to earn the bantamweight berth. He joins Olympic bronze medalists Evander Holyfield and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in boxing his way out of the challengers bracket to claim an Olympic berth.
The U.S. Olympic Team will begin the process of international qualifying at the 2007 AIBA World Championships, October 23-November 3, in Chicago, Ill. The light flyweight through light heavyweight competitors must place in the top eight to qualify while the heavyweight and super heavyweight boxers must finish in the top four. The United States will be hosting the World Championships for the first time since the 1999 World Championships in Houston, Texas.
By the way, light flyweight Luis Yanez of Duncansville, TX and light heavyweight Christopher Downs of Fort Carson, CO, were selected as team captains.
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3 comments:
Who Cares? Sure aint the same as 72 86 and 84.
Actually, Freddy, we care simply because one of our own (Gary) is involved.
It should be noted that the coach of the team Dan Campbell is from Norfolk, Va and ran the boxing program there foryears.
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