BOXING Richardson eliminated by Howard

Durrell Richardson will fight in the Eastern Olympic Trials.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
AKRON -- The Olympic dream is closing down for Youngstown amateur boxer Durrell Richardson, who lost a close four-round decision at the USA Regional/State Boxing Championships in Akron Thursday night.
Richardson (34-7), of Jack Loew's Southside Boxing Club, lost to Delaney Howard, of the Top Notch Boxing Club in Cleveland.
The USA elimination program held at the Chapparel Bingo Hall on Akron's Arlington Road has more bouts this weekend, with the winners advancing to next week's Region 5 Championships.
Josh Harris, a hard-punching southpaw trained by Frank West at the Buckeye Elks in Youngstown, was scheduled to fight in a 175-pound, four-round elimination bout Friday.
Family ties
Richardson, ranked eighth in the nation among 152-pound amateurs, was the 2002 147-pound National Golden Glove champion. He is the nephew of former World Bantamweight Champion Greg Richardson.
Thursday night in Akron, the hard-hitting southpaw took a page from his uncle's style of moving and counterpunching, as Howard stayed aggressive throughout the fight.
Richardson was the better power puncher, especially with his right, but Howard seemed to throw more punches.
"I did most of the punching and I thought that was enough to give me the decision," said Richardson.
Added his longtime trainer, Jack Loew: "It was a very close fight and the way I saw it was that Durrell was no worse than even, so the judges must have given the decision to Howard because of his aggressiveness."
Richardson's last opportunity to keep his Olympic dream alive will be in January's Eastern trials in Scranton, Pa.
Win and he stays in. Lose, and Durrell will likely turn pro, following in the footsteps of his uncle and father, Chester.
"Don't count Durrell out of the Olympics yet because we are going to change some things around to have him step up his attack in the ring and go after guys to put them away," Loew said.