The United States will face off with the top boxers from the Dominican Republic, May 31 at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USA vs. Dominican Republic Dual, which features three members of the United States Olympic Team, will be the final domestic dual meet before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China..
Heavyweight Olympian Deontay Wilder (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) will enjoy competing close to home as he battles the Dominican Republic, boxing in the same venue where he won his 2007 Golden Gloves title. Wilder will be joined by two-time Olympian and 2007 World Champion, flyweight Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio).
In addition to three United States Olympians, light flyweight Olympic runner-up Malcom Franklin (Rialto, Calif.); 2007 U.S. Championships bantamweight silver medalist David Clark (San Diego, Calif.); 2008 Featherweight National Champion Robert Rodriguez (Evans, Colo.); 2008 Light Welterweight National Champion Daniel O’Connor (Framingham, Mass.); 2008 Future Stars National Championships Welterweight Bronze Medalist Anthony Campbell (Covington, Tenn.); middleweight J’Leon Love (Dearborn, Mich.); 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Light Heavyweight Champion Christopher Downs (Fort Carson, Colo.); and U.S. Olympic Team Trials super heavyweight runner-up Kimdo Bethel (Albany, N.Y.) will complete the United States roster.
Six Dominican Olympians will compete in the event as well with light flyweight Jhonny Winston Montero, flyweight Juan Carlos Payano, featherweight Roberto Navarro Gonzalez, light welterweight Felix Manuel Diaz Guzman, welterweight Gilbert Lenin Castillo Rivera, and middleweight Argenis Casimiro Nunez all taking the ring in Chattanooga.
2004 Olympic Head Coach Basheer Abdullah (Fort Carson, Colo.), Andy Smith (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Charles Leverette (Fort Carson, Colo.) will serve as the coaches for the event with Sonny Duncan (Colorado Springs, Colo.) joining the delegation as Team Leader.
USA vs. Dominican Republic Dual action will kick off at 7:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Individual tickets for the banquet are $50 each; a table (seating eight) may be purchased for $400. A prime rib dinner will be served. General admission to the meet on Saturday is $12. Ringside seats are $20 and ringside tables (seating eight) are available for $300.
For more information or to obtain tickets, contact the YMCA at (423) 265-8835 or Joe Smith, U.S. Olympic Team Manager at (423) 400-8472.
United States Roster
106 lbs/48 kg: Malcom Franklin, Rialto, California
112 lbs/51 kg: Rau’shee Warren, Cincinnati, Ohio
119 lbs/54 kg: David Clark, San Diego, California
125 lbs/57 kg: Robert Rodriguez, Evans, Colorado
141 lbs/64 kg: Daniel O’Connor, Framingham, Massachusetts
152 lbs/69 kg: Anthony Campbell, Covington, Tennessee
165 lbs/75 kg: J’Leon Love, Dearborn, Michigan
178 lbs/81 kg: Christopher Downs, Knoxville, Tennessee
201 lbs/91 kg: Deontay Wilder, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
201+ lbs/91+ kg: Kimdo Bethel, Albany, New York
Dominican Republic Roster
106 lbs/48 kg: Jhonny Winston
112 lbs/51 kg: Juan Carlos Payano
119 lbs/54 kg: Claudio Ezequiel Marrero Guzman
125 lbs/57 kg: Roberto Navarro Gonzalez
132 lbs/60 kg: Ricardo Garcia
141 lbs/64 kg: Felix Manuel Diaz Guzman
152 lbs/69 kg: Gilbert Lenin Castillo Rivera
165 lbs/75 kg: Argenis Casimiro Nunez
178 lbs/81 kg: Warlerdy Rodriguez
201 lbs/91 kg: Juan De Jesus Paredes
201+ lbs/91+ kg: Antonio Mejia
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).