USA vs Great Britain - October 2009

[boxmel]

64kg Scott Cardle ENG def. Zeddie Adams USA +11:11

Dennis - do you know what the tiebreaker points were?

[jnelsonc]

I saw Errol Spence at the PALS. Does anyone know why he didn't fight there? Did the GB dual interfere with it? I know some who fought the dual also fought the PALS. I have seen him fight before and he is one of the best of the USA's team. he is exciting to watch and man, that dude is great. I believe he's gonna win the gold at the olympics. He has beautiful moves, fights very intelligently, and hits really hard! Go Errol!!

[Dennis]

64kg Scott Cardle ENG def. Zeddie Adams USA +11:11

Dennis - do you know what the tiebreaker points were?

The raw score was tied also. I think it was 25-25 or something close to that. They then had to have the judges push the button for who won the bout. They had to do it about 5 times and then finally write it down on a piece of paper as the computer wasn't receiving the information correctly. From my vantage point in the blue corner, I could see 2 of the judges and each time the British judge pressed the red button and the American judge pressed the blue button for Zeddie. I couldn't see the 3rd judge, but I knew who he voted for when the decision was announced for the red corner - Scott Cardle. The two British judges voted for the British boxer. It was a close bout though.

[Dennis]

I saw Errol Spence at the PALS. Does anyone know why he didn't fight there? Did the GB dual interfere with it? I know some who fought the dual also fought the PALS. I have seen him fight before and he is one of the best of the USA's team. he is exciting to watch and man, that dude is great. I believe he's gonna win the gold at the olympics. He has beautiful moves, fights very intelligently, and hits really hard! Go Errol!!

Errol boxed against GB in Norfolk on the 16th. The PAL's registration was two days later and the bouts started on the 19th. He could have done the PAL if he really wanted to, but he may have wanted a break. He also may have had a bruised or sore joint or something. Taking the time to heal and train to get ready for the next international dual might be a very smart move. Errol is going to England to box GB in the duals on November 13th and 15th. The team leaves next week.

[boxmel]

The raw score was tied also.

Ahh - a rare Level 2 tiebreaker where the judges push the button for the boxer they think won.

They had to do it about 5 times and then finally write it down on a piece of paper as the computer wasn't receiving the information correctly.

Sorry - but the current system leaves a lot to be desired. We had all sorts of problems at PAL with the computer scoring.

It was a close bout though.

Glad to hear it was competitive.

[Dennis]

Another USA boxer for the USA vs Great Britain dual in England will be Eric DeLeon of Michigan boxing at 60kg.

[boxmel]

I heard that our boxers were given blue & white uniforms with no contrasting waist band (no red) and yellow/gold headgear (no red or blue). What explanation were you given?

[Dennis]

I heard that our boxers were given blue & white uniforms with no contrasting waist band (no red) and yellow/gold headgear (no red or blue). What explanation were you given?

Everlast is the sponsor and they were to provide the uniforms and equipment. The uniforms were solid blue - top and bottom. Andrew and I went shopping to find a different colored jersey so the waistband contrasts with the jersey as required. We found solid white jerseys that worked. The headgear - yes we were provided with a vast assortment of colors - yellow, red (can't wear as we were in the blue corner), black, white and one or two blue ones. The problem is that many didn't fit any of our boxers as very few boxers wear XL headgear. We made the best of an imperfect situation.

[boxmel]

Doesn't sound promising.

[Dennis]

Hopefully they determine that they really want to support USA Boxing and get all 38,000+ amateur boxers in the U.S. to want their products by supplying them to the USA national teams. Give each boxer a pair of their Protex3 training gloves, their HydroLast Lockdown Hitop boxing shoes, some really special Team USA apparel including warm-ups, T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and competition uniforms. Then when Team USA wears the clothing and equipment everyone in their gyms will want to have the same stuff.

[boxmel]

Up until this instance, Everlast has provided equipment and clothing. I heard that the usual contact was no longer working for the company, but that shouldn't have mucked up the works this badly. Sounds like everything is falling apart.

[Dennis]

Mel - I don't know what the contract says. All I know is that Everlast is USA Boxing's "official sponsor". Everlast has all the equipment and apparel items necessary to fully outfit the teams.

[boxmel]

Everlast has all the equipment and apparel items necessary to fully outfit the teams.

Looks like they fell short this time. Hope it's a one-time occurrance only. :!:

[Kolya]

So not only did the Jordan equipment look 100x better than Everlast; they didn't even deliver the required products? Great.

[big ed]

how did some of this team get selected to go to london and r not #1or#2or#3?

[Dennis]

how did some of this team get selected to go to london and r not #1or#2or#3?

The international selection process has never been well defined. The committee seems to select boxers whom they think can benefit from the trip. Sometimes it is boxers in the top 4, sometimes a boxer who is deserving, but lost early in a close decision to one of the top ranked boxers. Many times these have won many other tournaments in the past couple of years and/or win a tournament subsequent to the USA Boxing National Championships. This is nothing new and they have done it many times in the past. A good example of this type of boxer would be Luis Arias who won many national tournaments in the last couple of years, but lost a close bout to Jesse Hart early in the 2009 USA Boxing National Championships which means he is only ranked #10. Yet, he defeated Hart and others to win the 2009 National PAL. He also took 2nd at the 2009 National GG losing to Sweden's Olympian. It is clear that Arias is one of the top 3 or 4 boxers in the 165# weight class so I wouldn't have a problem with USAB selecting him for an international trip.

[big ed]

i jst think its a bunch of b.s.! And thats y good amatuers turn pro!! thx for the info D

[big ed]

i believe its goin to be a tough road for my kid? if they do things like that?? too much politics! its jst B.S!!!..

[JMac]

i believe its goin to be a tough road for my kid? if they do things like that?? too much politics! its jst B.S!!!..

How is it politics? Who's your boxer? Where has he finished at national tournaments?
I can tell you exactly what the selection process for London was:
1. Golden Glove national champ if a US citizen
2. If champ not available, GG runner-up
3. If GG runner-up not available, #4 from US Champonships
4. if #4 not available, go to #5

The reason # 1's and #2's and 3's from the US Championships were not asked was because they just had the opportunity to box the Brits in the US. BTW, some of the !'s and 2's were also GG champs.
Remember this is a dual. England is good but not the best by a long shot when compared to the Russians, Ukrainians, Cuba and many others. When US boxers go to tournaments with top boxers, the #1's will be going. When the US boxes duals, common sense will be used in the selection process. We are trying to give boxers a chance at international competition which most US boxers are lacking but it is performance based. It can't get any more fairer than that so again, why is it political?

[byrdman66]

i believe its goin to be a tough road for my kid? if they do things like that?? too much politics! its jst B.S!!!..

How is it politics? Who's your boxer? Where has he finished at national tournaments?
I can tell you exactly what the selection process for London was:
1. Golden Glove national champ if a US citizen
2. If champ not available, GG runner-up
3. If GG runner-up not available, #4 from US Champonships
4. if #4 not available, go to #5

The reason # 1's and #2's and 3's from the US Championships were not asked was because they just had the opportunity to box the Brits in the US. BTW, some of the !'s and 2's were also GG champs. Remember this is a dual. England is good but not the best by a long shot when compared to the Russians, Ukrainians, Cuba and many others. When US boxers go to tournaments with top boxers, the #1's will be going. When the US boxes duals, common sense will be used in the selection process. We are trying to give boxers a chance at international competition which most US boxers are lacking but it is performance based. It can't get any more fairer than that so again, why is it political?

Just a comment: It always Political! The selection was not from;
1. Golden Glove national champ if a US citizen
2. If champ not available, GG runner-up
3. If GG runner-up not available, #4 from US Champonships
4. if #4 not available, go to #5
Some of the U.S. National Champion are the The Golden Gloves Champions and where never called.

[JMac]

Some of the U.S. National Champion are the The Golden Gloves Champions and where never called.

You're right. There were several GG champs that were US champs and I forgot to mention in that case, we went to the GG runner-up to try and get more boxers an international bout. There might be one case where a guy won both and is going because no one else was available.

[Dennis]

USA Boxing should try to get more boxers international competition so that the pool of talent is broad for the next 1-1.5 years and then start being more selective on who gets international competition starting in late 2010/early 2011. By mid 2011 only the top guys on the Olympic team and the runner-ups/alternates/training partners should be getting significant international experience. Then starting in mid to late 2012, it should broaden out again.

One more comment: please try to give international competition to boxers who have made a committment to stay amateur.

Big Ed - your son can't go on every trip and USA Boxing shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket anyway. What if they gave Eddie all the trips for the 69kg class and then he got sick or injured or quit boxing or ... ? The list goes on and on. In that situation, USAB and the USOC just invested a lot of money in an athlete who won't help Team USA win any medals. Besides in Eddie's weight class, they are sending the NGG champ who was also the USA National Champ. I am actually glad that they are recognizing the efforts of the boxers who won the NGG and the runner-ups. They might select National PAL champs for some other dual, but I hope they don't punish boxers who competed for Team USA in duals instead of boxing in the PAL (Jordan and Eddie both fall into that category). Somebody always benefits and somebody else always loses out on any decision the international selection task force makes. I hope to see Eddie get selected for another trip in the next few months as he is deserving. I just wish there was more money so that USAB could send more boxers on more trips. That really is what Team USA needs. In Europe the boxers get lots of international competition due to the close proximity of all the countries to one another. If more of our boxers had 50+ international bouts like their European counterparts had, we would see the United States get back to winning multiple medals.

[big ed]

i wasn't referring about eddie! i was saying is? i really dnt understand how other boxers where able to go on these tournaments overseas not being in the top 3 thats all? thanks for helping understand

[Dennis]

Big Ed - I've questioned it too. In fact, I've questioned it many times over the last 4-5 years. Everybody always assumes that I am only concerned about it b/c of my sons. Sorry that I made that same mistake with you.

[therealPunchDrunk]

Come on Big Ed, you were referring to your kid. You said: "i believe its goin to be a tough road for my kid?", so of course you were! Geez...