U.S GARY RUSSELL JR. COLLAPSES,OUT OF GAMES

[boxing4life]

I Cant Believe it but is true, Gary Russell Jr is out of the Olympics games. Apparently he couldnt make the weight.




http://www.nbcolympics.com/boxing/news/ ... e=rss&cid=

[rmz]

Wow, I just read about that a few minutes ago...really really sad to hear about this. I heard about Frankie Gavin this morning and was pretty bummed for him and now Russell is out...man, talk about bad luck. Hopefully no one else is going home, I'll be praying for them.

[locoxelbox]

What is it with today´s boxers that they can´t make the weight! Russell looked heavy when he was in Argentina a month ago. He looked like 60 kg so I can understand he struggled.

[boxmel]

Sounds like Campbell is putting full blame on Gary for not making weight. I thought this was the job of a coach - to make sure his or her boxer was ready, especially in a major competition. And to get to the point where he was found unconscious by Yanez? Not good.

[emile]

Very sad news. The Olympics are a cruel, cruel event - all that waiting to then have your dreams broken by slightly off-peak performance or something else like this. Condolences to Gary and his family, as well as to the other fighters who have not been able to participate.

[DCAmateurBoxing]

Sounds like Campbell is putting full blame on Gary for not making weight. I thought this was the job of a coach - to make sure his or her boxer was ready, especially in a major competition. And to get to the point where he was found unconscious by Yanez? Not good.

I agree with you, Mel. I don't understand how this can happen, especially when as a coach/trainer you say that he was 5lbs. over earlier in the week and you, as a coach/trainer, saw that "he wasn't sweating", felt he was dehydrated and "told him to rehydrate himself". Then you say basically, "I guess he didn't do what we told him" after he is found completely out of it.

I don't believe everything I read and this just make any sense to me. I could understand if they said, we tried to get the weight off by doing this and it didn't work. This reads like we told him what to do and he didn't. Oh well.

I just feel bad for Gary and the family after working so hard and coming this close - to not even get the opportunity is terrible. As MMA attracts more and more attention, money and athletes - amateur boxing is not helping itself with stories like this. With the thousands of hrs and tons of money spent on training - why was he not even monitored closely to help get the weight off? What is supposed to be a time for our elite athletes to showcase there skills - just gets worse and worse. I'm just glad that he is ok as reported.

[a87star]

This just proves that Campbell shouldn't have been put in charge of the boxing team. Instead of "manning up" and admitting his mistake.......the boxer gets the blame. Unreal.

I send my well wishes to Russell and his family. It's a shame things had to turn out like this.

[Grey]

Sounds like Campbell is putting full blame on Gary for not making weight. I thought this was the job of a coach - to make sure his or her boxer was ready, especially in a major competition. And to get to the point where he was found unconscious by Yanez? Not good.

Exactly! Isn't this the kind of stuff Campbell is paid to worry about? He basically exonerates any blame from himself during that interview. Do you think he'll get canned if the US doesn't win at least one gold?

[boxmel]

What's also sad is the fact that Gary's personal coach is one of the assistant Olympic coaches. How HE allowed this to happen is beyond me. I think we'll have to see how this all pans out with regard to Campbell's continuance in his present position. I think Rau'shee has an excellent chance of getting a gold - in spite of the program the team has been on this past year. I doubt that Campbell's fate will ride on this. And it shouldn't. Campbell should not be able to claim any part of Rau'shee's success.

[skinnyman]

This is another reason these guys should not have had to qualify so far in advance. I remember some people mentioning this early in the qualifying process that it may be hard for these guys to continue making weight for the next year since they are still growing.
It may be that there is no way he could make the weight so really God is responsible. If he is too big no person can be blamed.

[Dennis]

Very sad. Rau'shee had thought about trying to qualify at 119 instead of 112 for this very reason (the difficulty is continuing to make the same weight for over a year from the start of the U.S. Olympic team qualifying events). In fact he boxed at 119 at the MW Trials as he was already qualified for the US Olympic Team Trials from an earlier event. Ultimately, his coaches persuaded him to stay at 112. I hope it isn't a mistake.

Back to Gary Jr. I know he and his dad have had issues with the camp in Colo Springs. Like many of the boxers, he didn't maintain his weight in CS,CO as well as he did when he was at home under the watchful eyes of his dad. This is one of the reasons that the personal coaches should stay more involved. Many know their boxers inside and out and know how to keep them eating properly to maintain weight. What works for one, won't necessarily work for another and the personal coaches often know what works for THEIR OWN boxer.

I was also wondering if Gary Jr.s problems caused Gary III to pull out of the Under 19 as I noticed that he lost by W/O today. That is a real shame as Gary III defeated a very tough boxer yesterday and was well on his way to winning the U-19.

[boxmel]

Back to Gary Jr. I know he and his dad have had issues with the camp in Colo Springs.

Again, I'll state that Gary's personal coach is one of the assistant Olympic coaches. He's as responsible for Gary's pulling out as anyone else involved with the team.

[DCAmateurBoxing]

What's also sad is the fact that Gary's personal coach is one of the assistant Olympic coaches. How HE allowed this to happen is beyond me. I think we'll have to see how this all pans out with regard to Campbell's continuance in his present position. I think Rau'shee has an excellent chance of getting a gold - in spite of the program the team has been on this past year. I doubt that Campbell's fate will ride on this. And it shouldn't. Campbell should not be able to claim any part of Rau'shee's success.

Mel, Herb Martin is an assistant coach of Gary's but his father is his coach. Herb is the offensive coach for the team and works extensively with ALL the athletes. I would think that it's someone else's job to work on making weight with the athletes. Herb is a great trainer, mitt man and offensive (and defensive) coach, but I can't say that nutrition, anatomy or physiology is his specialty. I hope our US Olympic Boxing team isn't relying on him for that expertise. Plus, Campbell admits they knew he was having difficulty before Thursday.

[DCAmateurBoxing]

I was also wondering if Gary Jr.s problems caused Gary III to pull out of the Under 19 as I noticed that he lost by W/O today. That is a real shame as Gary III defeated a very tough boxer yesterday and was well on his way to winning the U-19.

No it was not!! Allen came to the weigh-ins late (scale was still open) and they wouldn't let him weigh in because he wasn't there when his name was called. I thought that when a boxers isn't present when his group or bout is called at weigh-in - if he/she shows up while scale is still open (in this case from 7-9 am), he/she has to wait until everyone has weighed-in, but is stilled allowed on the scale. They can't just come in late and just get on the scale. If you miss your slot, you just go to the "back of the line" so to speak. I can tell you for a fact that it is very difficult to hear the announcement of the groups at the weigh-ins in the a.m. because they are just yelling over hundreds of people. They don't have a megaphone or PA system. I had boxers that I had to send in way late - after they called their group because I didn't hear it.

At least, I've seen it handled that way in the Silver Gloves. Again, I wasn't there at the scale. I just know what I was told.

I also understand this isn't an invitation, but a USA Boxing Event. Normally, in an invitational where a lot of boxers were no-shows and pulling out- you would try to work with a boxers who came to box. I don't think letting someone in while the scale is still open would be against the rules. Just my two cents.

[boxmel]

No it was not!! Allen came to the weigh-ins late (scale was still open) and they wouldn't let him weigh in because he wasn't there when his name was called. I thought that when a boxers isn't present when his group or bout is called at weigh-in - if he/she shows up while scale is still open (in this case from 7-9 am), he/she has to wait until everyone has weighed-in, but is stilled allowed on the scale.

No - the rule is you must be in line when your name is called. If you are not, you can't weigh in.

I also understand this isn't an invitation, but a USA Boxing Event. Normally, in an invitational where a lot of boxers were no-shows and pulling out- you would try to work with a boxers who came to box. I don't think letting someone in while the scale is still open would be against the rules. Just my two cents.

I was also wondering if Gary Jr.s problems caused Gary III to pull out of the Under 19 as I noticed that he lost by W/O today. That is a real shame as Gary III defeated a very tough boxer yesterday and was well on his way to winning the U-19.

No it was not!! Allen came to the weigh-ins late (scale was still open) and they wouldn't let him weigh in because he wasn't there when his name was called. I thought that when a boxers isn't present when his group or bout is called at weigh-in - if he/she shows up while scale is still open (in this case from 7-9 am), he/she has to wait until everyone has weighed-in, but is stilled allowed on the scale. They can't just come in late and just get on the scale. If you miss your slot, you just go to the "back of the line" so to speak. I can tell you for a fact that it is very difficult to hear the announcement of the groups at the weigh-ins in the a.m. because they are just yelling over hundreds of people. They don't have a megaphone or PA system. I had boxers that I had to send in way late - after they called their group because I didn't hear it.

At least, I've seen it handled that way in the Silver Gloves. Again, I wasn't there at the scale. I just know what I was told.

I also understand this isn't an invitation, but a USA Boxing Event. Normally, in an invitational where a lot of boxers were no-shows and pulling out- you would try to work with a boxers who came to box. I don't think letting someone in while the scale is still open would be against the rules. Just my two cents.

You are definitely entitled to your two cents..... However - the rule is if you don't arrive at the scale at the appointed time you don't get to weigh in - period. If non-advancing tournaments, i.e. want to mess with the rules, that's their call.

[boxmel]

Mel, Herb Martin is an assistant coach of Gary's but his father is his coach. Herb is the offensive coach for the team and works extensively with ALL the athletes.

Thanks - was under another impression. 8) It would seem to me that ALL the coaches should know who's on weight and who isn't - especially if this is a team.

Also, IMHO, for Gary to pull out of the U-19 because his brother screwed up and was DQ'd at the Olympics is pretty stupid. He just blew his chance for an international championship.

And, yes, I also questioned the boxers qualifying a year ahead of time and being able to keep weight. Hopefully we've learned from this.

[DCAmateurBoxing]

You are definitely entitled to your two cents..... However - the rule is if you don't arrive at the scale at the appointed time you don't get to weigh in - period. If non-advancing tournaments, i.e. want to mess with the rules, that's their call.

Thanks It's always nice to read the rulebook. I've seen this rule broken many times and now I know. For those that don't:

Section 107.15 ( from USA Boxing Rulebook) Weigh-ins, weighmasters/weighmistresses and scales.
(1) Weigh-ins.
(e) All boxers must report to the scales at the starting time as announced or printed
on the entry information.
(g) For USA Boxing national championships, the weigh-in shall begin at 7 a.m.
and end at 9 a.m. For USA Boxing regional championships, the weigh-in shall
begin at the time unanimously agreed upon by the region’s LBC presidents and
will be two (2) hours in duration. Boxers over weight as per 107.15(1)(k) must
make their weight no later than when the scales close.

Thanks for making me read, Mel.

[boxmel]

Thanks for making me read, Mel.

I HATE it when I have to make a coach read the rules!

[squarering]

There are many ways to get beat, but I think everyone can agree that the scale is worst one. With all that can be said about blame and fault, I can only imagine the disappointment of both Garys (Dad and son) and can not help but feel bad for both of them. Few dissapointments can be on such a large scale in life.