Early predictions for the Olympic Games

[holeymoley99]

They may have to pull something that extreme if he lays another egg like this one BUT you are right it could well happen.

[Kolya]

Yeah, who knows. I just can't see their national boxing hero not winning Gold in Beijing.

[Dennis]

I don't think Yanez was listening to Dan Campbell at all. With all the turmoil between the two, I am not surprised. I still thought Yanez should have been awarded a lot more points and the final score should have been 13-10 or something like that. The boxers have been taught in camp to pick their shots and work the scoring system. Position themselves for the judges. So when they are told to "let your hands go or let your hands fly" it is contrary to what they have previously been told. He did need to punch more, but he also needed some more specific instructions. How about moving in a little closer and jab and move to the side. He kept staying right in front of the other guy and he kept going in straight and then went out straight. That was a mistake. However, a boxer needs to feel comfortable with their coach and be confident in the coaches ability to help them win. It has been obvious that most of the team does not fit into that category.

If the national coaching staff would work with the personal coaches and give clinics that lots of top boxers can attend, the USA boxing team will improve down the road.

[Dennis]

Shiming did not look good. Maybe he will do better in his remaining bouts.

[holeymoley99]

I agree that a boxer needs to be comfortable with their coach and trusting. I coach wrestling and it is the same way with our sport,we as coaches can help make adjustments on the fly but if the athlete wont listen it is pretty rough. I have been fortunate to have a great relationship with 99% of my athletes and that includes All Star teams I have coached. It makes all the difference.

Dan Campbell seems way to inflexible for his athletes. Maybe as a club coach for his own fighters he is successful because I havent witnessed him in that role I cant say,but he has no idea how to relate to an All Star team which is exactly what our athletes are. The my way or the highway attitude has helped cause the embarrassment and I think this will stick with him for quite a long time. Dan needed to HELP these athletes not try and make them think and act exactly like the athletes you train. Then to bad mouth them time and again is terrible, Dan failed the USA and hopefully never gets another team.

[Dennis]

Artayev v. Korobov. It was an ugly bout, but I thought Artayev won and won by a wider margin than what the score cards indicated. If more punches counted and the scoring was higher, then giving a warning wouldn't be as big of a deal. This bout was foul filled in the 4th round. Someone is going to get hurt if they don't get control of the bouts.

[boxmel]

Dan Campbell.......Maybe as a club coach for his own fighters he is successful

Until he was hired by USA Boxing as the National Coaching Director, Dan had mainly JOs and his daughter, Kenecia, who was an elite women's boxer.

Dan failed the USA and hopefully never gets another team.

As long as he is employed by USA Boxing in his present role, he will be the head coach for any and all teams in international competitions.

[holeymoley99]

Time for him to be unemployed then and I would guess it happens very shortly after the games end from his showing this past week.

[Canada]

Shiming did not look good. Maybe he will do better in his remaining bouts.

I saw him on TV in his first fight and I had no idea it was him. He seemed flat footed and so much slower on his feet than in Chicago. The fact that he was down with 15 seconds left against the French fighter, a fighter he stopped in Chicago really goes to show how off form he has been.

[boxmel]

Time for him to be unemployed then and I would guess it happens very shortly after the games end from his showing this past week.

We'll see. There should be some kind of housecleaning after Beijing - but you never know.

[Kolya]

This has been embarassing. At best, it's our worst showing since 1948. At worst, it's the worst since 1908, when I don't think we sent a team.

[boxmel]

At worst, it's the worst since 1908, when I don't think we sent a team.

We didn't.

[Dennis]

Thankfully Wilder made it so we won't be shutout. However, with the talent on this team we should have had 3-5 medals. The fact we didn't shows the ineptitude of the National coaching staff. It is time to clean house as soon as Deontay's last bout is over.

[Kolya]

Thankfully Wilder made it so we won't be shutout. However, with the talent on this team we should have had 3-5 medals. The fact we didn't shows the ineptitude of the National coaching staff. It is time to clean house as soon as Deontay's last bout is over.

Campbell I think needs to have a pink slip by the time the team touches down in San Francisco.

[Dennis]

Thankfully Wilder made it so we won't be shutout. However, with the talent on this team we should have had 3-5 medals. The fact we didn't shows the ineptitude of the National coaching staff. It is time to clean house as soon as Deontay's last bout is over.

Campbell I think needs to have a pink slip by the time the team touches down in San Francisco.

You are so right on this one!

[Kolya]

Thankfully Wilder made it so we won't be shutout. However, with the talent on this team we should have had 3-5 medals. The fact we didn't shows the ineptitude of the National coaching staff. It is time to clean house as soon as Deontay's last bout is over.

Campbell I think needs to have a pink slip by the time the team touches down in San Francisco.

You are so right on this one!

Am I ever not? Kidding.

I keep hearing these things about a lot more international meets and duals in the USA to get a lot more boxers and coaches international experience. Hopefully they do this and finally start inviting more coaches; I heard it would be from Level 2 and up. Just because one is a level 4 doesn't mean they're the best for the job.

[boxmel]

I keep hearing these things about a lot more international meets and duals in the USA to get a lot more boxers and coaches international experience.

They should have been doing this for the last three years. The job of the Events Department is just that - to involve our elite athletes in international events, either in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world.

Hopefully they do this and finally start inviting more coaches; I heard it would be from Level 2 and up. Just because one is a level 4 doesn't mean they're the best for the job.

You have to be a Level 4 to coach at a world event, i.e., Olympics, Worlds, Pan Ams. But if more coaches rise through the levels, there will be more Level 4 coaches! 8)

[kidscoach]

The number of Level 4 Coaches is not the problem. There are a lot of them (50 or 60) just guessing throughout the country. The problem is that the "powers that be" don't allow them to go on any iinternational trips. All those trips are attended by the same coaches over and over, and USA Boxing won't send any others to get them some experience with traveling with a team internationally or taking advantage of their expertise. And it is NOT because these coaches are not available to go, most of the time they are or can arrange their schedules to go. Everything is just sewed up in that small group of folks in the "good ol boys club".

[Dennis]

They need to select lots of different boxers too. Not just the Director of Coaching's friends or favorites. Lets go back to having an international selection committee so there is input from more than one person on who gets selected.

[Dennis]

Level 2 coaches like myself can't move up without USAB conducting some coaches clinics. They have not conducted a T-T-T clinic in several years. If they want coaches to teach boxers differently, then you are going to have to give clinics, seminars, webinars, etc.

My suggestion is that they could conduct webinar clinics to save money. I would log on and learn. It would cost USAB less money. It would cost our LBC less money. Finally, it would cost me less money.

I'm sending this suggestion to USAB.

[boxmel]

And it is NOT because these coaches are not available to go, most of the time they are or can arrange their schedules to go.

Do you think that's 100% true? I know of many instances over the years when Joe Zanders, for instance, has been asked to fill in when other coaches asked were not able to take off weeks and months. I do think that is part of the problem. I've talked to enough other coaches to know that this is a factor - the time away from jobs, etc.

They have not conducted a T-T-T clinic in several years.

No money.

My suggestion is that they could conduct webinar clinics to save money.

Since many of the agenda items discussed are based on hands-on experience, I don't know how this would translate to a webinar clinic.

Lets go back to having an international selection committee so there is input from more than one person on who gets selected.

There is one in effect. My understanding is that any of the selections must be approved by Dan Campbell.

[Kolya]

Level 2 coaches like myself can't move up without USAB conducting some coaches clinics. They have not conducted a T-T-T clinic in several years. If they want coaches to teach boxers differently, then you are going to have to give clinics, seminars, webinars, etc.

My suggestion is that they could conduct webinar clinics to save money. I would log on and learn. It would cost USAB less money. It would cost our LBC less money. Finally, it would cost me less money.

I'm sending this suggestion to USAB.

Same. My coach is completely eligibly for Level 2, and Duran Caferro is eligible for Level 3; but there's nobody around to give those clinics.

[boxmel]

I have heard that the Coach's Director Tom Coulter is working on an updated certification plan. I suggest you email Tom since he's the man in charge.

[Dennis]

And it is NOT because these coaches are not available to go, most of the time they are or can arrange their schedules to go.

Do you think that's 100% true? I know of many instances over the years when Joe Zanders, for instance, has been asked to fill in when other coaches asked were not able to take off weeks and months. I do think that is part of the problem. I've talked to enough other coaches to know that this is a factor - the time away from jobs, etc.

They have not conducted a T-T-T clinic in several years.

No money.

My suggestion is that they could conduct webinar clinics to save money.

Since many of the agenda items discussed are based on hands-on experience, I don't know how this would translate to a webinar clinic.

Lets go back to having an international selection committee so there is input from more than one person on who gets selected.

There is one in effect. My understanding is that any of the selections must be approved by Dan Campbell.

Dan has been making the decisions, plain and simple. There needs to be more than one person making the decision.

[Dennis]

Level 2 coaches like myself can't move up without USAB conducting some coaches clinics. They have not conducted a T-T-T clinic in several years. If they want coaches to teach boxers differently, then you are going to have to give clinics, seminars, webinars, etc.

My suggestion is that they could conduct webinar clinics to save money. I would log on and learn. It would cost USAB less money. It would cost our LBC less money. Finally, it would cost me less money.

I'm sending this suggestion to USAB.

Same. My coach is completely eligibly for Level 2, and Duran Caferro is eligible for Level 3; but there's nobody around to give those clinics.

I sent it to USAB and will let you know what comes of it.