(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The nation’s top 17 and 18-year-old male and female boxers will compete for a national title at the 2010 Under 19 National Championships, February 9-12 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event consistently showcases future Olympians and world champions early in their careers and the 2010 event will be no exception. In addition, the winners in the men’s division will earn a berth on the 2010 Youth World Championship Team..
All of the competition will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Cincinnati with preliminary action beginning on Tuesday, February 9 and running through Wednesday, February 10. Semifinal action will be contested on Thursday, February 11 and the event will conclude with final round competition on Friday, February 12.
The Under 19 National Championships is a critical tournament in the development process of future Olympians and professional world champions. The event, which has taken place since 1983, has featured many of the greats of the sport early in their budding careers. Since its inception, 18 Under 19 National Champions have gone on to represent the United States in the Olympic Games. Three of the 18 Olympians, Meldrick Taylor, David Reid and Andre Ward went on to claim gold medals at the Olympics, two claimed silver medals and four won bronze, including Cincinnati’s own Tim Austin.
In addition to the 18 Under 19 National Champions that moved on to Olympic glory, several Under 19 National Champions went on to make their mark on the professional boxing world. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was a two-time Under 19 National Champion during his formative amateur days and former light middleweight champion Fernando Vargas won an Under 19 title during his storied amateur career as well.
Four reigning professional world champions, WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, IBO light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander and Ohio’s own middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. In addition, reigning WBC welterweight world champion Andre Berto competed in the 2002 Under 19 National Championships.
Cincinnati boasts its own impressive amateur boxing heritage with the Queen City placing seven boxers on the U.S. Olympic teams since 1992. Cincinnati’s success continues into the Under 19 National Championships with the city owning six titles. Cincinnati natives Timothy Austin and Ron Siler both claimed Under 19 titles en route to a berth on the Olympic Team while Keith Kemp claimed two Under 19 crowns and Gerald Tucker and William Jackson both won gold at the event as well.
The full roster of competitors in the 2010 event is not finalized, but will be released upon completion.
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).