1st Pan Am Games Qualifier Feb. 2-9 Barquisimeto, Venezuela

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 12 Feb 2007, 17:38

The USA team doctor's name is Dr. Robert McKittrick. If you wish to voice your appreciation you can email USA Boxing's acting ED John Stavros at [email protected]. Thanks for the appreciation you posted here. Most of our doctors go on international competitions knowing they are there for all boxers, if needed, not just those on the U.S. team.

If your boxer was unable to compete due to an injury and his opponent won on a W/O, this automatically takes you out of any tournament. I don't see how you can contest the decision. Seems smarter to me to rest his ankle and make sure he is ready to go in Buenos Aires.

ricky_old · Post by **ricky_old** » 12 Feb 2007, 19:37

Mel:
We are talking about a guy who beat the 178 lb. boxer from Argentina and USA clearly. He injured his ankle in the second round of his fight with Christopher Downs (USA) and still wins 30-14 winning the bronze medal and for all effects qualifying to the Pan Am Games. But you are telling me that if I put him in the ring with his injured ankle and stop the fight right after the beginning of the fight he qualifies because he lost on retirement but if he is check by a Doctor who certify his injury and losses by walk over he does not. Is that what you are saying Mel? If that's the rule, then we got to do something with that one.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 12 Feb 2007, 19:42

Hi Ricky - maybe I didn't understand. Had he already qualified before the injury kept him out of his next bout? If this is the case then, yes, he qualified. Our Karl Dargan qualified and then pulled out of his next bout, probably on medical advice. Please clarify.

Have you had the chance to say hi to the Arroyo twins yet?

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 13 Feb 2007, 10:46

The difference between the Dargan case and Negron is that Dargan had already qualfied in winning his quarter-final bout. In the light heavies only the best semi-final loser (the one who loses to the gold medalist) was the one who qualified. Negron was up against Cuba (heavy favorite) and lost by WO. The venezuelans (who lost the other semi) filed a protest saying their guy fought in the semis and Negron didn't, then he should qualify, not the guy who didn't even fight.
I don't think there's anything in the rules who can clarify this. It's up to interpretation. If he really was injured (as seems to be the case), in my opinion he should qualify (if the rules don't state otherwise).

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 13 Feb 2007, 11:26

I think it is a dumb selection process to have only one semi-final loser qualify and the criteria is that he lost to the eventual winner. They should have a box-off between the semi-final losers to determine the #3 boxer. In the case of Negron, he would then lose by W/O and not be qualified. I can see both sides of the argument, but I just like to settle it in the ring.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 13 Feb 2007, 12:22

Unfortunately, when the IOC told the governing bodies to cut down on numbers, the answer was the selection process we currently have in our continental qualifiers. I can almost bet the slot will go to the boxer who competed and lost, even if it wasn't to the gold medalist. Ummm - why did Negron pull out?

ricky_old · Post by **ricky_old** » 14 Feb 2007, 18:00

boxmel wrote: Ummm - why did Negron pull out?

He pull out because he was injured and 2 doctors had already seen him. I thought that was clear. The question we should ask is;

Should we put him in the ring with his swollen injured ankle and let him fight and take a beating just to lose "fighting" not by WO and qualify?

I think that's not right, especially when you have doctors at the venue who can perform an evaluation of the injury and decide if the athlete can safely compete or not.

Worst case scenario will put him in Argentina at the 2 nd qualifier winning the gold medal, so he will qualify anyway that's for sure.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 14 Feb 2007, 18:05

Ricky, I certainly understand your frustration. Let us know if Negron goes to Buenos Aires.

PRKO · Post by **PRKO** » 12 Mar 2007, 20:50

It doesn't matter if Carlos "Charlie" Negron does not qualify he will definitly qualify in Buenos Aires. Carlos is by far IMO the best fighter on the Puerto Rican squad next with McWilliam Arroyo (Who deafeated Bartelemy) after the departure of Carlos Velazquez.

I doubt Puerto Rico would have pulled Charlie out of the fight with the Cuban, I know Charlie has the size and reach advantage to beat Napoles clearly.

ricky_old · Post by **ricky_old** » 16 Mar 2007, 16:41

He already qualify in Venezuela, that's why he's not going to be in Argentina. He is definetly a great talent, 6'5" and skilfull. A very good Heavy Weight in the future.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 16 Mar 2007, 16:43

Ricky - did you ever tell the Arroyo twins I said, "hola?"

ricky_old · Post by **ricky_old** » 16 Mar 2007, 17:09

He already qualify in Venezuela, that's why he's not going to be in Argentina. He is definetly a great talent, 6'5" and skilfull. A very good Heavy Weight in the future.

pound per pound · Post by **pound per pound** » 24 Mar 2007, 09:02

boxmel wrote:Yes, training is important. But more important, IMO, is the fact that our boxers need LOTS of international experience. Unfortunately, that probably isn't going to happen until AFTER our entire mind-numbing qualifying process. The Worlds in September is the next biggie. If our Olympic team (who will also have to go through the Continental qualifying process) gets much international experience between, say, October and next May (a whole 7 months), I just hope its quality competition and it makes a difference.

The USA boxing program needs a major league overhaul Mel. Our Heavies and Super heavies used to be feared. Now every international fighter’s hopes for a lucky USA draw in the upper weights.

The USA fighters at all weights who do well these days seem to get by on natural ability, not technique, or grit.

I can understand being outclassed, but what I can not understand is our fighters wearing the USA uniform that lack heart. If Mike Wilson can't beat the Canadian that's one thing, but if he didn't go for it while behind on points.......that stinks.
The USA needs to double its own qualifications tournaments to compete internationally. One can only hope by fighting a bit more, the athletes 1 ) sharpen their skills, and 2 ) get tougher.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 24 Mar 2007, 11:25

All the USA Boxing program needs is to send our top boxers to as many international competitions as it can and bring other countries here. Of course, when the organization doesn't have any money, or a competent staff, this is hard to do.

The USA fighters at all weights who do well these days seem to get by on natural ability, not technique, or grit.

I do have to disagree with you here. We don't have many, if any, top boxers with "natural ability." The last two I can think of were Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather. All have come up through the JOs, have good national experience, skills, technique and heart. The only thing they don't have is a good base and knowledge of international boxing.

The USA needs to double its own qualifications tournaments to compete internationally.

That's the one thing we DON'T need! We only have qualification tournaments for major international events: Pan Ams, Worlds and Olympics. We just need to bring countries here, along with sending our boxers to as many international competitions as possible.