Future Stars Action Kicks Off in Colorado Springs
U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. America's Best Athletes have gathered in the Pikes Peak region for a week-long competition to determine USA Boxing's Future Stars. The competition began with lightweight action as Brett Simmons (East Cleveland, Ohio) and Cordaro Simpkins (Chesapeake, Va.) faced off. Simmons enjoyed a quick start, using his long reach and height to his advantage to take a 5-0 lead at the end of round one. Simmons picked up the pace in the second round, and extended his lead throughout the bout, winning the match 20-2. Fidel Maldonado (Albuquerque, N.M) and the United States Marine Corps' Edgar Ramirez also grabbed first round victories in the lightweight division.
2007 National PAL light welterweight champion Jamal James (Minneapolis, Min.) utilized his outstanding height and reach in his opening bout of the competition as well, defeating David Russell (Pope Air Force Base, N.C.) in preliminary round action. James gained a 4-0 lead in the first round, and used a strong fourth round to pull away, winning by decision, 18-6. Fellow victors in the light welterweight division were 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials participants Samuel Martinez (Camp Lejeune, N.C.) and Michael Brooks (Oceanside, N.Y.)
The final bout of the noon session featured 2008 Olympic Team Trials participant Daniel O'Connor (Framingham, Mass.) and Jermoll Charlo (Houston, Texas). Though Charlo had a significant height and reach advantage, he could not keep up with O'Connor's pace. O'Connor grabbed the lead in the first round, and increased it over the next four minutes for a 12-6 edge. O'Connor held Charlo scoreless in the fourth round to record a 14-6 final decision.
Preliminary round action continued with eight bouts in the welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight division at 6 p.m. at the United States Olympic Training Center.
The evening session of boxing started with a high-speed match between Errol Spence (Desoto, Texas) and Wesley Padilla (Rock Springs, Wyo.) in the welterweight division. Errol maintained a quick pace to defeat Padilla, 17-7.
The next dual featured middleweights Shawn Porter (Stow, Ohio) and Michael Gavronski (North Bend, Wash.). Porter started round one with fast and sharp combinations to give him a lead of 14-1, and went on to win by stoppage in the second round. (RSCOS, R2).
Army boxer Zacchaeus Hardrick (Fort Carson, Colo.) and Police Athletic League boxer Richard Hardgraves (San Francisco, Calif.) faced off in a hotly-contested bout. Hardrick's agility and quickness won him the bout by decision, 15-8. Other middleweights moving on in the 165 lb class were Jesse Hart (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Ramon Valenzuela (Chicago, Ill.), who each won their respective matches by decision.
Light heavyweight Dorian Anthony (Lynwood, Calif.) started his bout strong and never let up, ending the first round 4-0, and the match, 17-4. Thomas Williams (Laurel, Md.) and Andrew Hernandez (Phoenix, Ariz.) will move along with Anthony to the next round.
The U.S. Future Stars National Championships preliminary action will continue Monday at noon local time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Gear up for 38 bouts of excitement.
March 9
Preliminary Round Results
Evening Session
152 lbs/69 kg: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas, dec. Wesley Padilla, Rock Springs, Wyo., 17-7
165 lbs/75 kg: Shawn Porter, Stow, Ohio stopped Michael Gavronski, North Bend, Wash. RSCOS, R2 - out scored
165 lbs/75 kg: Zacchaeus Hardrick, Fort Carson, Colo. Richard Hardgraves, San Francisco, Calif. dec. 15:8
165 lbs/75 kg: Jesse Hart, Philadelphia, Pa., dec. Andre Penn, Rapids City, S.D., 13-9
165 lbs/75 kg: Ramon Valenzuela, Chicago, Ill., dec. Chap Huggins, Ft. Worth, Texas, 24-17
178 lbs/81 kg: Thomas Williams, Laurel, Md. dec. Jerry Martin, Norfolk, Va., 14:5
178 lbs/81 kg: Dorian Anthony, Lynwood, Calif. dec. Rodney Ellison, Cheyenne, Wyo.,17-4
178 lbs/81 kg: Andrew Hernandez, Phoenix, Ariz. dec. Adam Axelson, Bozeman, Mont., 21-11
Noon Session
132 lbs/60 kg: Brett Simmons, East Cleveland, Ohio, dec. Cordaro Simpkins , Chesapeake, Va., 20-2
132 lbs/60 kg: Fidel Maldonado, Albuquerque, N.M., dec. Jose Roman, Garden Grove, Calif., 12-9
132 lbs/60 kg: Edgar Ramirez, Camp Lejeune, N.C., dec. Adrian Martinez, Milwaukee, Wis., 2-1
141 lbs/64 kg: Samuel Martinez, Camp Lejeune, N.C. dec. Adrian Orrostieta, Brandenton, Fla., 14-6
141 lbs/64 kg: Jamal James, Minneapolis, Minn. dec. David Russell, Pope Air Force Base, N.C., 18:6
141 lbs/64 kg: Michael Brooks, Oceanside, N.Y. dec. Michael Morales, Bay Point, Calif., +16-16
141 lbs/64 kg: Daniel O'Connor, Framingham, Mass. dec. Jermoll Charlo, Houston, Texas, 14-6
