WHEN IS THE US NATIONALS COMMING BACK UP
WHEN IS THE US NATIONALS COMMING BACK UP
IS IT GONNA BE IN MARCH
USAB does not know yet. The new Director said in the Colorado Springs newspaper that he would like to see the U.S. Championships in a bigger city and a bigger venue next year. The article mentioned that he could see it in New York or Los Angeles during this time next year.
I don't know if that will happen since most people would like to have it go back to late February/early March. We will have to just wait and see.
I don't know if that will happen since most people would like to have it go back to late February/early March. We will have to just wait and see.
The June date was dictated by A2P as they were then in a position to market that event. By the time they pulled out, it was too late to make major changes in dates and venues. I believe/hope that any non-Olympic year will go back to the old routine of US Championships in March.
Where the US Championships, or JOs, or Under-19, are held is decided through a bid process. USAB puts the various events out to bid and makes a decision as which one to take. Most of the bids require that the hosts pay all expenses for staff, plus having a vehicle available, and other stuff, plus paying a certain amount to USAB. This hasn't always worked out in the past several years, hence the tournament being held in Colorado Springs. In order to bring it to Los Angeles or New York, an entity in either of those cities would have to bid and meet bid requirements.
Los Angeles, by the way, is not a good venue for amateur boxing. There are too many other sports, including pro boxing, that draw crowds. We had the 1991 Olympic Festival in L.A., with the boxing finals held at the Forum. In a 15,000 seat venue, I believe 5,000 of those seats were taken, mostly by boxers, coaches, friends, family, and the rest in comped seats. It was not a huge success.
Where the US Championships, or JOs, or Under-19, are held is decided through a bid process. USAB puts the various events out to bid and makes a decision as which one to take. Most of the bids require that the hosts pay all expenses for staff, plus having a vehicle available, and other stuff, plus paying a certain amount to USAB. This hasn't always worked out in the past several years, hence the tournament being held in Colorado Springs. In order to bring it to Los Angeles or New York, an entity in either of those cities would have to bid and meet bid requirements.
Los Angeles, by the way, is not a good venue for amateur boxing. There are too many other sports, including pro boxing, that draw crowds. We had the 1991 Olympic Festival in L.A., with the boxing finals held at the Forum. In a 15,000 seat venue, I believe 5,000 of those seats were taken, mostly by boxers, coaches, friends, family, and the rest in comped seats. It was not a huge success.
Mel - you will have to talk to Jim Millman about it. He is the one discussing L.A. as a possible host city for next year. However, with his marketing background maybe he can make it work. I would love to see amateur boxing get better marketing than it has received in the past decade. Below is a copy of the Colorado Springs Gazette article quoting Millman:
Boxing notes: Championships may leave Springs in 2008
BY BRIAN GOMEZ, THE GAZETTE
June 8, 2007 - 11:18PM
The U.S. Boxing Championships might be leaving Colorado Springs for a larger venue in a bigger city.
Jim Millman, the executive director of Colorado Springs-based USA Boxing, said the country’s longest-running boxing tournament could move elsewhere as early as next year.
“There’s an opportunity to make this a much bigger event,” Millman said before the men’s finals at the Antlers Hilton. “I’d like to look toward venues where there are pockets of really strong boxing interest. Why not this week in New York or Los Angeles?”
The national championships have been fought in Colorado Springs all but two years since 1988. It was staged in Pueblo in 1998 and in Las Vegas in 2002.
USA Boxing and the Colorado Springs Sports Corp. have co-hosted the men’s finals the past two years. The event turned a profit last year at the Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel, said Mike Moran, communications director for the Sports Corp.
Antlers general manager Scott Melchior said the hotel hasn’t discussed possibilities for next year with officials from USA Boxing or Sports Corp.
“We’re interested in any event that would help support the community,” Melchior said. “It’s certainly something that would be considered.”
Asked if the event will be here next year, Millman said, “I don’t think I’m in a position to say that now.”
NO CONTEST FOR WARREN
Olympian Rau’Shee Warren said he was glad Aaron Alafa withdrew from their flyweight title fight because of a rib injury.
“It would have been our second time fighting,” said Warren, who stopped Alafa in the third round of the 2005 national championship bout. “It probably would have ended up worse for him than it was the first time.”
Warren, 20, will be the flyweight favorite at the Olympic team trials in August. He lost a first-round light-flyweight fight at the 2004 Games, where he was the youngest American man competing in any sport.
“All the people that are behind me, they want to see me go to the Olympics,” he said. “I’m going to make sure that when I go home, I train extra hard.”
Boxing notes: Championships may leave Springs in 2008
BY BRIAN GOMEZ, THE GAZETTE
June 8, 2007 - 11:18PM
The U.S. Boxing Championships might be leaving Colorado Springs for a larger venue in a bigger city.
Jim Millman, the executive director of Colorado Springs-based USA Boxing, said the country’s longest-running boxing tournament could move elsewhere as early as next year.
“There’s an opportunity to make this a much bigger event,” Millman said before the men’s finals at the Antlers Hilton. “I’d like to look toward venues where there are pockets of really strong boxing interest. Why not this week in New York or Los Angeles?”
The national championships have been fought in Colorado Springs all but two years since 1988. It was staged in Pueblo in 1998 and in Las Vegas in 2002.
USA Boxing and the Colorado Springs Sports Corp. have co-hosted the men’s finals the past two years. The event turned a profit last year at the Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel, said Mike Moran, communications director for the Sports Corp.
Antlers general manager Scott Melchior said the hotel hasn’t discussed possibilities for next year with officials from USA Boxing or Sports Corp.
“We’re interested in any event that would help support the community,” Melchior said. “It’s certainly something that would be considered.”
Asked if the event will be here next year, Millman said, “I don’t think I’m in a position to say that now.”
NO CONTEST FOR WARREN
Olympian Rau’Shee Warren said he was glad Aaron Alafa withdrew from their flyweight title fight because of a rib injury.
“It would have been our second time fighting,” said Warren, who stopped Alafa in the third round of the 2005 national championship bout. “It probably would have ended up worse for him than it was the first time.”
Warren, 20, will be the flyweight favorite at the Olympic team trials in August. He lost a first-round light-flyweight fight at the 2004 Games, where he was the youngest American man competing in any sport.
“All the people that are behind me, they want to see me go to the Olympics,” he said. “I’m going to make sure that when I go home, I train extra hard.”
Dennis, I have no reason to talk to Jim Millman. All I did was state what the procedure has been in the past, my opinion that it should go back to a March date rather than June, and that amateur boxing was NOT a draw at the 1991 Olympic Festival in Los Angeles. I sincerely hope the new ED can market USAB back to a major spectator sport and I, along with many, will be watching to see what and how he does.