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USA boxing show Friday
By Joe Scalzo
Youngstown
For several Olympic boxing hopefuls, the road to London goes through Youngstown.
The Lake Erie Association of USA Boxing will hold its 2010 qualifying tournament Friday at the Saxon Club on South Meridian Road.
The 12-bout amateur card features 2008 Olympian Raynell Williams of Cleveland’s Salvation Army Boxing Academy.
“You have to come through this tournament to qualify for the U.S. championships,” said Southside Boxing Club owner Jack Loew, who will run Friday’s tournament. “You need to win here to make that next step.”
Williams earned a featherweight spot in the 2008 Olympics and lost a controversial decision in his second bout at Beijing. Afterward, the then-19-year-old decided to postpone his pro career to focus on the 2012 Games in London. He will fight Thomas Mattice (S.A.B.A.) in a 132-pound bout.
Other fighters to watch at Friday’s event include Olympic hopeful Zeddie Adams (who will meet Angel Figueroa of Freddie’s B.C. in a 141-pound match) and Southside amateurs Alejandro “Popo” Salinas (who faces Ricardo Vega III in an 119-pound match), Alex Smith (who fights Montana Love of the S.A.B.A. in a 138-pound bout) and Richard Chacon (who fights Askaree Carroll of the S.A.B.A. in a 132-pound match).
“These are good fights, believe me,” said Loew. “Raynell is very equally matched and there are some really good fighters here.”
Seniors (17-and-older) will advance to the regional tournament next week in Chicago. Those winners will advance to the U.S. Championships, held July 12-17 in Colorado Springs. J.O. Seniors (15-16) are trying to qualify for the National Junior Olympics, which will be held in North Carolina.
This is the first time a qualifying tournament has been held in Youngstown, Loew said.
“It’s a great opportunity for the people in this area to see not only local talent, but some of the top kids all around the state of Ohio,” Loew said. “This is a major amateur tournament.”