US Olympic Selection Procedures

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 29 Dec 2006, 12:31

Does anyone have any idea when the USOC is going to approve (or not) the proposed procedures?

USA Boxing states in their proposed procedures that they will list the locations and dates of all USA Boxing Regional Championships on the USA Boxing website at least 45 days prior to the competition. That is not happening.

The East Central Regional Tournament is listed as being held February 8-11 in TBA. It is already less than 45 days until February 8th and they still don't have the location listed. I'm sure there are other regional tournaments that also need to be listed right away.

USA Boxing proposes a 32 boxer field for each weight class in the USA Boxing National Championships with 3 boxers getting automatic byes into the quarterfinals. That only leaves 20 open spots in the first round of a 5 day tournament. The procedure lists 22 boxers as being eligible to fill those 20 spots (the winners of the: 14 regional championships, Eastern Trials, Western Trials, Midwestern Trials, 4 military branch championships, and the USOEC representative).

Perhaps all spots won't be filled but if they do it will require another preliminary round (6 days of boxing) to complete the national championships.
Some boxers may have to box 5 or 6 days in a row to win the tournament, while the 3 boxers with byes into the quarter-finals would only have to box 3 times to win the tournament.

inc969806 · Post by **inc969806** » 30 Dec 2006, 01:49

Yeah, it would be nice to know how it will be done. But, even when they announce it it may get changed because it has already been changed more than twice I believe.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 30 Dec 2006, 18:41

inc969806 wrote:Yeah, it would be nice to know how it will be done. But, even when they announce it it may get changed because it has already been changed more than twice I believe.

It already isn't going to operate as proposed since the Pan Am Games boxer is going to be selected from a box-off conducted in a few weeks rather than as detailed in the proposed selection procedures.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 31 Dec 2006, 05:17

The U.S. Championships will get done in the usual 6 days. There has always been a possibility of 20 regions sending 11 boxers for a total of 220 boxers - I think that's what we usually have if not maybe a bit less even with the At Large boxers.

USA Boxing posted the Regional tournaments but it's up to the Regions to decide when and where they will be held. USA Boxing does not dictate that.

The Pan Am Box-offs HAD to be switched due to the scheduling of the 3 Americas qualifiers. AIBA gave very short notice on that info.

Last I heard, the USOC would sign off on the qualifying schedule - and they may have, but since USA Boxing isn't communicating any news - who knows.....

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 31 Dec 2006, 09:50

Mel - I love it, you defended USA Boxing in one statement and then criticized them in another!

THE WATCHER · Post by **THE WATCHER** » 31 Dec 2006, 10:37

My thoughts exactly Dennis
I got engaged to boxing in 1980 we broke up for a while and i had other interests Football,Basketball,Wrestiling,Track
We got back togehter in 1990 and have been married every since but its a Love Hate relationship but you cant help who you LOVE.

Mels in that same relationship her husbands name is USA Boxing

How bout you Dennis you still sneeking out at night to see your mistress LOL
Coming home late for dinner? Calling off of work, Shacking up in motels ?LOL

HAVE A HAPPY BLESSED NEW YEAR GUYS
Go back to the corner get a squirt of water take a couple deep breaths
and make your adjustments cause we took a beating in 06
and here comes 2007.
GOD PLEASE BLESS ALL MY BOXING FAMILY.
THE WATCHER.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 31 Dec 2006, 13:43

Mel - I love it, you defended USA Boxing in one statement and then criticized them in another!

Sorry, you lost me on the above.

Mels in that same relationship her husbands name is USA Boxing

Actually, his name is Rick Ley and we are both Level 3 officials.

I will admit I'm more active politically than he is. We do some national tournaments together and others separately (I only tech nationally any more - get my way paid). And we both officiate locally.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 01 Jan 2007, 13:53

Watcher - Yeah boxing does get into your blood and then won't leave. LOL. I sparred 2 rounds with Jordan Friday since that is all I can do with him. I sparred 5 rounds straight yesterday - 2 with Eric Grant and then 3 with "Pinky" Javonn Barnes. It was fun. I was exhausted at the end though.

Yes, I do spend a lot of time with my "mistress". She does demand a lot of my time, travel, money, energy, etc. Motel in Pontiac this coming weekend for the state tourney box-offs and Silver Gloves.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 02 Jan 2007, 18:47

I just noticed another problem with the proposed Olympic Selection Procedures.

There appears to be an error in the Olympic Selection Procedures updated 10/27/06 (or at least I hope it is an error).

Paragraph I.B. states “Once an athlete earns a spot in the 2007 USA Boxing National Championships, he is eligible to compete in the other qualifying tournaments (except the Eastern, Western, and Midwestern Trials), but he must attend the 2007 USA Boxing National Championships as the representative of the first tournament at which he qualified.”

The above quoted procedure would mean a boxer who wins his regional championships or Eastern Trials and then wins the National Golden Gloves would have to box in the preliminary round as the representative for his Region or the Eastern Trials representative rather than accept the Golden Gloves spot with an automatic bye into the quarter-finals. I do not believe that is what USA Boxing envisioned and therefore it is an error. I believe what they were trying to say is if a boxer won the PAL and then his Regional Championships or the National Golden Gloves, he would have to go as the PAL winner. However, to deny a boxer the automatic berth into the quarter-finals just because he also won his Regional Championships or the Eastern Trials prior to winning the National Golden Gloves would be wrong and patently unfair.

I hope this little glitch gets fixed so that we won't have any major controversies during the 2008 Olympic selection process.

Southern-Cali · Post by **Southern-Cali** » 03 Jan 2007, 02:23

Hello Dennis,

I was reviewing the USA boxing calendar and noticed all of the eastern, western, and midwestern all have TBA. There was a schedule already given out at the coaches meeting during the PALS. It reads as follows: eastern mid April 2007: western 2nd weekend of May: midwest 3rd weekend of May. USA Championships is a 5day tournament starting 6/11 thru 6/16/07. Winners that qualify for Pan Am Rio de Janeiro schedule is as follows: June 30-July 9th training camp
July 10th-13th team processing
July 14th- Depart to Rio de Janeiro
July 16th-19th acclimation
July 20th-29th Boxing competition
July 31st return to USA!
Olympic box offs Mid August. If this schedule is correct it means the winner of box offs Jan 20th -21st. Should plan for competition straight though June, July and August.
I hope this helps. Maybe USA representatives forgot they gave this schedule at the PALS.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 03 Jan 2007, 12:29

Southern-Cali: Yes, that helps. That is more definitive than anything I have seen previously. The tight schedule could be a problem for some of the PanAm boxers. If anyone gets a suspension or an injury, they might not be able to compete in the Olympic box-offs. Two weeks between major competitions is not a lot of time to recover.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 05 Jan 2007, 20:12

If one of our boxers qualifies for an Olympic spot at the Pan Ams, he will also HAVE to qualify for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. If he doesn't make our team, he will not go to the Olympics in the Pan Am slot. This happened to several of our boxers in 2004 - Juan McPherson was one; I think Aaron Garcia was the second.

You're right about the tight schedule, for sure!

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 06 Jan 2007, 01:20

boxmel wrote:If one of our boxers qualifies for an Olympic spot at the Pan Ams, he will also HAVE to qualify for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. If he doesn't make our team, he will not go to the Olympics in the Pan Am slot. This happened to several of our boxers in 2004 - Juan McPherson was one; I think Aaron Garcia was the second.

You're right about the tight schedule, for sure!

Do you think that is why some of our top boxers are not in the Pan Am Box-offs?

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 06 Jan 2007, 12:08

No - as with most events that are more than a week in duration, I think that many of our boxers just can't make it - work, school, etc. I was, however, really surprised to see that Warren is not on the list; Gary Russell may still be having problems with his broken hand(s)?

THE WATCHER · Post by **THE WATCHER** » 06 Jan 2007, 14:38

Raushee Warren Had out patient surgery on his foot injury bone spurs and hasnt been able to train
Gary Russel hand injury havent heard about anyone else yet

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 06 Jan 2007, 19:23

Thanks, Watcher. Didn't know about Rau'shee's bone spurs. They hurt! I really just think that USA Boxing got who is available and willing to take the time off for the Pan Am Box-offs marathon.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 08 Jan 2007, 11:22

boxmel wrote:Thanks, Watcher. Didn't know about Rau'shee's bone spurs. They hurt! I really just think that USA Boxing got who is available and willing to take the time off for the Pan Am Box-offs marathon.

If USA Boxing had more funding, they would be able to offer a monthly training stipend to all Pan-Am box-offs participants that weren't already receiving one as an Elite athlete. That might help ensure better participation. However, there would still be athletes who are in high school or college who could not take the time off with such short notice (jobs too). There are also legal problems, injuries, boxers who aren't in top shape, etc.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 08 Jan 2007, 12:25

Dennis - why would you give the Pan Am Box-offs a monthly stipend? It's a one-time shot, just like any other box-off, i.e., the Worlds. USA Boxing doesn't pay the stipend - USOC does - so it has nothing to do with USAB funding.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 09 Jan 2007, 15:24

boxmel wrote:Dennis - why would you give the Pan Am Box-offs a monthly stipend? It's a one-time shot, just like any other box-off, i.e., the Worlds. USA Boxing doesn't pay the stipend - USOC does - so it has nothing to do with USAB funding.

It isn't a one time thing for the winners of the box-offs as they have to compete in qualifiers for the Pan Am Games and then the Pan Am Games in July, which is why they should possibly receive a training stipend if they are not already receiving one.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 09 Jan 2007, 17:03

Then you would also propose that a training stipend be given to the winner of the World Championships box-off? Same situation. USOC would have to put that in place and I don't think they will spend more money over and above their already stated stipend. Also, the USOC stipend in given monthly for training expenses, etc., regardless of what competitions the receivers participate in.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 09 Jan 2007, 18:33

boxmel wrote:Then you would also propose that a training stipend be given to the winner of the World Championships box-off? Same situation. USOC would have to put that in place and I don't think they will spend more money over and above their already stated stipend. Also, the USOC stipend in given monthly for training expenses, etc., regardless of what competitions the receivers participate in.

Yes, I would. The purpose of the stipend is to give our boxers a better chance of success by not having to worry as much about money as they otherwise would. The training stipend can be taken away if the boxers don't compete, if they turn pro or get incarcerated. I think the money should get paid to boxers who fill the elite team spots. I know that this is a sore subject for a lot of coaches who don't think the USOC should be giving stipends to any amateur boxers, but instead use that money to help support the sport as a whole. I realize that many boxers cannot afford to stay amateur unless they receive a stipend. The list of young 18 year old boxers who turned professional recently is growing, but I understand why they do it. It is either turn pro or quit boxing.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 09 Jan 2007, 19:08

Another topic of suggestion email to Stavros.

I don't think the USOC can "support the sport as a whole." Remember, they also fund all the other Olympic sports and I'm sure their C&BL state what they can and cannot do, just like ours do.

It's sad, but we are the only country without government support. And I don't see that changing.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 10 Jan 2007, 14:55

I just wanted to let everyone know that USA Boxing corrected the problem in the Olympic Selection Procedures that I previously discussed. The problem was the procedures had indicated that a boxer would not be able to represent the National Golden Gloves with an automatice bye into the quarter-finals if the boxer had previously qualified to the US Championships in their Regional tournament or the Eastern Trials. I had notified USA Boxing of the problem and they took action. The new updated version is posted on the USA Boxing website. It says on the first landing page that it is updated 1/10/07, but then the document itself says December 7, 2006 and each page still has the date of October 11, 2006 at the bottom. I believe the true updated date is January 10, 2007. I am glad to know that USA Boxing is listening.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 12 Jan 2007, 10:09

Interesting turn of events - AIBA says the Pan Ams is a qualifier for the Olympics. USA Boxing does not. Hmmmmm.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 12 Jan 2007, 11:53

boxmel wrote:Interesting turn of events - AIBA says the Pan Ams is a qualifier for the Olympics. USA Boxing does not. Hmmmmm.

Well we know who always wins those battles!