Who looks the best bet to make the 2008 US Olympic team?

GRfan · Post by **GRfan** » 30 Oct 2006, 19:28

Covered all the exceptions, didn't you! Please remember that once a boxer has qualified for the U.S. Championships in a weight class, he can't change weights. Personally, I think picking the team a year in advance is going to present problems with athletes (1) keeping their qualifying weights and (2) not being able to take time off from work or school.

I agree that qualifying that far in advance can cause problems, especially for the younger guys. Raushee Warren boxed in the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials just days after turning 17. The Trials for 2004 were just 6 months before the Olympics. For 2008, the trials are being conducted 12 months in advance and if the procedure would have been used in 2004 Raushee would not have been old enough per USA Boxing rules to compete in the trials.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 30 Oct 2006, 20:24

Yep - 12 months from the Box-offs to the Olympics. Depending on Rau'shee's birthdate, he might have been old enough for the Olympics. The AIBA age determination date is usually the first international tournament of the year. Meldrick Taylor is the one who barely made it prior to the 1984 Olympics. I feel sorry for the October PAL champions who have to wait 8 months until the U.S. Championships.

GRfan · Post by **GRfan** » 31 Oct 2006, 00:11

An example of how quickly young boxers can grow and change weight classes is Andre Dirrell. In 2002 Andre Dirrell started out boxing in the 139 pound division (age 19) and then moved up to the 156 pound division in August. By early 2003 (age 20), he was boxing in the 165 pound division where he stayed until the Olympics a year and a half later.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 31 Oct 2006, 01:02

I was at the 1999 Junior Olympic Nationals when Andre was 16 and weighed 106.

inc969806 · Post by **inc969806** » 31 Oct 2006, 02:06

There is not a perfect way to do the Olympic qualifiers. I like how USA Boxing changed the Olympic Trials/Box-Offs methods though to where now there will be 8 from each weight class in the Box-Offs and it is a double elimination tournament. I think that is much better than the idea of only 2 in the Box-Offs.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 31 Oct 2006, 10:40

The Box-offs are actually following the former Olympic Trials format, and looking at the below, it looks as if there could be 2 battling for the top spot. Just took away the additional two-day former Box-off event.

• Competitive Field Determined
– Top 8 athletes from U.S. National Championships in each weight class.
• All athletes from the quarterfinals of each weight class advance to Box-Offs.
•The semi-finalists will be seeded – top 4.
• Double-Elimination Tournament
– Once an athlete loses two bouts, they are out.
–The final two athletes (Winner of Match M and Match K), will face-off on Day #6 and Day #7 (if needed).

holeymoley99 · Post by **holeymoley99** » 11 Nov 2006, 00:31

2006 hasnt been the best year for Jeremy but I fully believe he will peak in time for the 2008 Trials. The kid has tremendous talent and handles himself in a classy manner as well.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 11 Nov 2006, 01:12

Hopefully Jeremy will peak in 2007 for all the qualifying events. The team will be decided next year, not in 2008.

boxing4life · Post by **boxing4life** » 11 Nov 2006, 23:50

My Pick For 2008 Olymipic Team

106- Luis Yanez
112-Rau'she Warren
119-Gary Russel Jr.
125-Luis Del Valle
132-Danny Garcia
141-Karl Dargan
152- Demetrius Andrade(if dont move up)
165-Daniel Jacob
178-Christopher Downs
201-Adam Willet
201+ While Open

boxfan08 · Post by **boxfan08** » 02 Dec 2006, 00:51

Unit · Post by **Unit** » 11 Dec 2006, 14:06

My picks Are

106-Luis Yanez
112-Rau'shee Warren
119-Gary Russell
125-Sadam Ali
132-David Williams
141-Karl Dargan
152-Demetrius Andrade
165-Edwin Rodriguez
178-Yathomas Riley
201-Iunno
201+-Who cares

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 12 Dec 2006, 17:03

Unit wrote:My picks Are

106-Luis Yanez
112-Rau'shee Warren
119-Gary Russell
125-Sadam Ali
132-David Williams
141-Karl Dargan
152-Demetrius Andrade
165-Edwin Rodriguez
178-Yathomas Riley
201-Iunno
201+-Who cares

I definitely see an east coast bias. Danny Williams is a pro heavyweight. I think you mean Danny Garcia. I also think you just picked the #1 or #2 ranked boxer in each weight class. What is Iunno for the 201 class? Who cares for 201+? There can be some excellent bouts at the heavier classes. My son Jordan's 201# bout at the state tourney last weekend was the bout of the weekend. It was much better than the bouts in the smaller weight classes. You had two big guys throwing a lot of punches and showing a lot of skill. The two boxers were also better conditioned than most of the boxers in the smaller weight classes.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 12 Dec 2006, 19:11

My son Jordan's 201# bout at the state tourney last weekend was the bout of the weekend. It was much better than the bouts in the smaller weight classes. You had two big guys throwing a lot of punches and showing a lot of skill. The two boxers were also better conditioned than most of the boxers in the smaller weight classes.

Unreal! Totally unreal! LOL!

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 13 Dec 2006, 01:01

Unit - I realize that you said David Williams and not Danny Williams. I take it that you are David Williams. Am I correct? Good luck in your quest to earn a spot on the US Olympic team.

Karlof · Post by **Karlof** » 13 Dec 2006, 02:57

Hello Dennis Ive read that your son is a huge talent (Jordan Shimmell?) How did he go in the tourney?
I first caught his name when he (as a 17 year-old?) almost won the national golden gloves earlier this year (a close decission-loss to Eric Fields if I remember correct). But what happened then? I thought that he was going to be USA:s man in the U-19 World championships.

K

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 14 Dec 2006, 02:06

Karlof wrote:Hello Dennis Ive read that your son is a huge talent (Jordan Shimmell?) How did he go in the tourney?
I first caught his name when he (as a 17 year-old?) almost won the national golden gloves earlier this year (a close decission-loss to Eric Fields if I remember correct). But what happened then? I thought that he was going to be USA:s man in the U-19 World championships.

K

Actually Jordan had done very well before 2006. He had won the bronze medal at the 2004 National Junior Olympics losing on a tie-breaker to the gold medalist. He then went on to win the gold medal at the 2005 National Junior Olympics by defeating Bear Richardson in the finals. Yes, he did do very well in his first year in the open class and lost a very close and controversial 3-2 split decision to Eric Fields (the defending champ) in the National Golden Gloves finals. Fields was awarded the Golden Boy awared as the most outstanding boxer of the tournament.

Jordan then had some distractions and didn't focus on his training. He then lost on a tie-breaker to his friend at the United States U-19 tourney. He then decided to play football this fall during his senior year of high school. He continued to train for boxing during the football season, but couldn't focus 100% of his energy on his boxing workouts. The season ended about 1 month ago and he has been training exceptionally hard and is determined to do very well in 2007. He won his bout at the LBC tourney this past weekend and looked great. He threw about 100 punches per round for the entire 4 rounds. He has a box-off for the state title in 3 weeks. He has been looking great in the gym too. I anticipate that he will repeat as state champ and then continue on. Hopefully, Jordan continues to improve and you will see him shine in 2007. Thanks for asking.

Who looks the best bet to make the 2008 US Olympic team?

Jeremy Bryan will rebound