Category: Amateur boxing

The one and only 1956 Olympic gold medalist Pete Rademacher

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 27, 2020) - 1956 Olympic gold medalist Pete Rademacher is the only boxer to fight for a world title in his pro debut. Rademacher, who died this past June at the age of 91 in Sandusky, Ohio, was a native of Tieton, Washington. He had a 72-7 amateur record, highlighted by his gold medal performance at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. Rademacher started boxing during his rehabilitation for Rheumatic Fever, which he contracted while attending Castle Heights Military Academy. The gifted heavyweight captured top honors at numerous national tournaments, including the 1951 & 1953 National AAU Championships, 1954 All-Army Championship and Service Championships, and Olympic Trials. In Australia, Read more [...]

Flash From the Past: Tommy Ocera the Cherry Point’s Two-Fisted Dynamite Boxer!

Tommy Ocera, Cherry Point’s 135 pound two-fisted dynamite boxer, was a stand-out amateur boxer in the past, and who also served as a Marine, with the 2nd Marine Air Division wing at Cherry Point, in North Carolina.  Ocera’s amateur boxing record over a three-year span shows an impressive 20 wins, three losses, with two of those fights ending by split decisions. Tommy was very proud of serving with the Marines and had often reflected back to his time spent in Cherry Point.  He spoke with great honor and pride, just as he did whenever he spoke about his years when boxing in the amateurs. One of his many proud relatives Ken Theissen, told us, “When Tommy took my brothers and me into his small boxing gym in the basement of his catering hall,  he would tell us of the great life’s Read more [...]

2018 Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships has Largest Turnout in USA Boxing History

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Oct. 8, 2018) -- The 2018 Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. will begin tonight with the largest turnout in USA Boxing national tournament history. After check-in and general weigh-in, a total of 834 boxers and 550 boxers will take part in the weeklong national tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center. "We have seen our national tournaments continually grow each event," stated USA Boxing Executive Director Mike McAtee. "Since 2017, USA Boxing has been providing extra opportunities with our regional qualifying tournaments for all boxers, aged 8-40, to step onto the national stage and box the best in the nation." This marks the second year the Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open has been held in Chattanooga, Read more [...]

USA Boxing Alumni Association Profile: 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Jesse Valdez, who was an outstanding amateur boxer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  -- 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Jesse Valdez, who was an outstanding amateur boxer, never turned pro because he chose security for his family rather than take a risk and parlay his amateur pedigree into a prize fighting career.  Valdez first went to the local Boys' Club when he was 11. The youngest of seven children in a low-income family, headed by his single mother, in which the kids all slept in one bedroom, girls in a bed, boys on the floor, sharing space with cockroaches. "I started going to the club and I guess I did well because I started beating older and bigger guys," Valdez remembered. One day a coach asked me if I was interested in learning how to box. At 11, USA Boxing people were interested in me, not me the boxer, and they always gave me guidance. Read more [...]

USA & Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour results from BOSTON

BOSTON (March 13, 2018 - Press Release/Bob Trieger ) - Team USA defeated Team Ireland, 8-4 , last night (Monday) on the first stop of the three-city 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour, at Club Royale Entertainment Center in Boston's historic theater district. Two of the best amateur boxing squads in the country, featuring numerous 2020 Olympic hopefuls, had a major showdown to the delight of the mixed crowed of supporters of both programs. "It was a fantastic night of boxing," said Team USA head coach Billy Walsh, who used to guide Team Ireland's boxing program. "The real winners were the boxing fans, American and Irish, supporting these two young teams. I was really happy with our performance as well as theirs." The USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour continues this Thursday Read more [...]

Springfield embodies spirit of USA Boxing: Second stop of USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour on Mar. 15

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (February 28, 2018) - Central City Boxing Club and Barbell, based in Springfield, Massachusetts, embodies the true spirit of USA Boxing. Dean Fay, the Central City Boxing and Barbell Gym Founder & Director, has helped develop the Western New England Golden Gloves franchise into the preeminent power in the six-state region, capturing numerous individual All-New England titles and five consecutive team championships. More importantly, though, Dean and his outstanding staff have reshaped the futures of countless youth in Greater Springfield, instilling an invaluable philosophy that, through amateur boxing, provides an opportunity for members to reshape their lives, in addition to making a significant difference in their communities. From a storied past at the Read more [...]

1st USA Boxing Alumni Association Event in NE a KO

LOWELL, Mass. (February 23, 2018) - Nearly 50 past New England Golden Gloves boxers turned out last night for the inaugural USA Boxing Alumni Association meet-and-greet in a private room, prior to the opening bout of the New England Tournament of Champions, at historic Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts. Picture courtesy of Edward Boches / Boches Photography The USA Boxing Alumni Association gathering was also to promote the 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour, which kicks-off Monday, March 12, at Royale Entertainment Complex in Boston's famed theater district. The USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour will continue March 15 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. and concludes March 21 at The Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire. Among Read more [...]

USA Boxing Announces USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 29, 2018) -- USA Boxing announced today the three cities that will host the 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour.Boston, Manchester (NH) and Springfield (MA) will welcome two of the world's top amateur boxing teams for friendly duals. Each city will showcase up to 12 bouts, that will all be live streamed, free of charge, on USA Boxing's website. The tour will kick off March 12 at Boston's Royale Entertainment Complex, followed by matchups on March 15 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. Manchester will close out the duals on March 21 at The Manchester Downtown Hotel. Boxing will begin at 7:00 p.m. EST in all three cities, and tickets will be made available for purchase in the coming weeks. The American delegation will be led by Head Coach Read more [...]

Shakur Stevenson’s Olympic Finale Destined to Add Another Chapter to the Storied USA – Cuba Olympic Boxing Rivalry – by Julie Goldsticker/USA Boxing

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 19, 2016) -  It has been 20 years since the United States and Cuba have met in a boxing gold medal bout at the Olympic Games. Yet, another chapter will be added to the long history of epic match-ups between the top two medal producers in Olympic boxing on Saturday. Junior and Youth World Champion and Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Shakur Stevenson (Newark, N.J.) and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba will meet at Riocentro Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro for the greatest prize in Olympic boxing. One of the most highly anticipated match-ups of the 2016 Olympic Games, the bantamweight finale features two highly skilled, intelligent boxers battling it out for Olympic gold. Stevenson had not even been born the last time an American boxer faced Read more [...]

American Flyweight Antonio Vargas Wins Olympic Games Opener in Front of Raucous Brazilian Crowd – by Julie Goldsticker / USA Boxing

  RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 13, 2016) -  Team USA's flyweight Antonio Vargas (Kissimmee, Fla.) faced less than a warm welcome in his Olympic Games opener with host nation boxer Juliao Neto of Brazil on Saturday at Riocentro Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Vargas kicked off his tournament a week in to the event and he made his debut a victorious one in their preliminary bout. The American team has faced hostile crowds every time they entered the ring in Brazil, but Vargas battled the loudest crowd the squad has heard. Despite the boos bellowing through the arena, Vargas wore a wide smile as he walked to the the ring for the first time at the Olympic Games. The bout was sloppy from the start due to Neto's awkward style and constant holding. Vargas connected with several Read more [...]

The United States’ Shakur Stevenson and Gary Russell Roll in to the Quarterfinal Round at the 2016 Olympic Games – by Julie Goldsticker/USA Boxing

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 13, 2016) -  Two young American boxers put on a great showing in an undefeated afternoon for the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team at the 2016 Olympic Games. Bantamweight Shakur Stevenson (Newark, N.J.) and light welterweight Gary Antuanne Russell (Capitol Heights, Md.) both won their preliminary bouts on Sunday at Riocentro Pavilion 6 to clinch spots in the quarterfinal round. The pair now only needs one more victory to secure a berth on the medal stand. American light flyweight Nico Hernandez (Wichita, Kansas) received his bronze medal at the conclusion of the first session on Sunday afternoon. Junior and Youth World Champion and Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Shakur Stevenson (Newark, N.J.) had to endure a week-long wait before finally competing in his first Read more [...]

Team USA’s Nico Hernandez Clinches a Bronze Medal and Gary Antuanne Russell Wins Olympic Debut in Wednesday’s Action – by Julie Goldsticker/USA Boxing

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 10, 2016) -  The drought is officially over for the U.S. Men's Boxing Team. Light flyweight Nico Hernandez (Wichita, Kansas) clinched a bronze medal with his third unanimous decision victory of the 2016 Olympic Games on Wednesday night at Riocentro Pavilion 6. Hernandez's win advances him on to a semifinal match-up and secures his berth on the podium. Light welterweight Gary Antuanne Russell (Capitol Heights, Md.) made it an undefeated night for the American squad with a unanimous decision victory in his Olympic debut. In a change from past Olympic Games, the light flyweight bracket will be completed in the first eight days of the Olympic Games and Hernandez has taken gotten on quite a roll while boxing every other day. He stepped in to the ring for the third Read more [...]

The United States’ Jonathan Esquivel Wins His WSB/APB Olympic Qualifying Event Opener – by Julie Goldsticker/USA Boxing

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (JULY 4, 2016) -  Light heavyweight Jonathan Esquivel (Anaheim, Calif.) won his WSB/APB Olympic Qualifying Event debut on Monday afternoon at the final qualifier in Vargas, Venezuela.  He is the only American boxer remaining in contention at the event as super heavyweightBrandon Lynch (Albany, N.Y.) dropped his opener on Sunday in his first major international bout and welterweight Paul Kroll (Philadelphia, Pa.) and heavyweight Cam F. Awesome (Lenexa, Kansas) fell in heart breakers on Monday. Esquivel took on Bulgaria's Spas Genov in first round competition on Monday afternoon and celebrated Independence Day with a split decision win in the light heavyweight contest. The 21-year-old Olympic Trials champion will face veteran professional boxer Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam Read more [...]

Team USA Goes Undefeated on Day Two fo the Americas Olympics Qualifier

Julie Goldsticker report:  BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (MARCH 13, 2016) - Bantamweight Shakur Stevenson (Newark, N.J.), middleweight Charles Conwell (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) and heavyweight Cam F. Awesome (Lenexa, Kansas) all scored definitive preliminary round victories on Sunday at the Americas Olympic Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The wins advance all three to the quarterfinal round in the Olympic qualifying event at the Ferial la Rural de Palermo.   Fresh off being named AIBA January/February Boxer of the Month, Stevenson stepped in to the ring for his first bout of the Americas Olympic Qualifier. The first U.S. boxer to compete in Sunday's action, Stevenson faced off with Colombia's Luis David Vargas in a bantamweight preliminary bout. The 18-year-old started quickly in the match, Read more [...]

Power House Amateur Team From the Elite Heat Gym Shine This Past Weekend

NEWARK, NJ (NOVEMBER 25, 2013)--This past weekend members of the Powerhouse Amateur team that trains out of the Elite Heat Gym in Newark, NJ had successful showings in three different tournaments on the east coast. First in Stamford, Connecticut, Silver Gloves National Champion Malik Nelson, who was competing in the 13-14 year-old, 85 pound division lost a close decision to Felix Rivera of Connecticut.  Nelson is trained by Charles Johnson. In the same tourney, Jr. Golden Gloves national champion Vito Mielnicki Jr., who competes in the 11-12 year old, 80 pound division won a unanimous decision over Silver Gloves runner-up Xavier Ramirez of Reading, PA. In the Metro championships that took place at Gleasons Gym in Brooklyn, NY.  Zyad Hassan who fights in the 11 year-old, 95 pound division Read more [...]