(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The USA Boxing National Championships, the premier amateur boxing event in the United States, will return to Colorado Springs, Colo., July 12-17, for the 2010 edition. Over 200 of the nation’s top Olympic-style boxers in both the male and female divisions will compete in the tournament, which is being presented by the Daniels Fund and co-hosted by the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation..
“We are excited to have the USA Boxing National Championships back in Colorado Springs where the event has been successful,” said Mike Martino, Interim Executive Director. “With the support of the Daniels Fund, the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation and the U.S. Olympic Committee, this event will once again be one of the top sports events in Colorado.”
The USA Boxing National Championships, which moved north to Denver in 2009, will return to its long-time home in Colorado Springs for the 2010 edition. The Pikes Peak region has played host to the tournament in 20 of the last 22 years with the only exceptions being trips to Las Vegas in 2002 and Denver last year.
The first four days of competition will all be contested in Sportscenter I at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with preliminary round competition being contested July 12-14, and semifinal action taking place on July 15. The event will move to the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Saturday with men’s consolation bouts and women’s non-Olympic weight classes final round action being showcased in a matinee session on Saturday afternoon. Saturday night will feature an evening of Olympic-contested action with final round action in both the 10 men’s weight divisions and the three women’s Olympic weight divisions at 7 p.m.
Preliminary and semifinal action is open to the public and free of charge for all attendees. Spectators for the women’s finals on Saturday afternoon are encouraged to bring a donation for the women’s boxing program. Tickets for Saturday night’s action will go on sale on March 1 through www.ticketswest.com and are only $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Preferred seating and VIP tables are available for purchase through the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation at 634-7333 ext. 1009, or Sloane@thesportscorp.org.
“The Sports Corp is genuinely thrilled that the USA Boxing National Championships will return to Colorado Springs, and that we can help host and promote this tremendous event again,” said Dave Palenchar, Chairman of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. “Our city has had the honor of hosting this event many times in the past, and each time, it has been a success. We look forward to showcasing the best of America’s Olympic-style boxers in the city that is the home of our Olympic movement as they train and prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.”
The event is being presented by the Daniels Fund for the second straight year and USA Boxing appreciates the tremendous support of the outstanding philanthropic organization. “Bill Daniels wanted young people to have access to quality coaches and sports programs that teach discipline, confidence, and sportsmanship,” said Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “As a representative of his legacy, the Daniels Fund is honored to be associated with the USA Boxing National Championships – a positive, inspirational sporting event for Olympic hopefuls.”
Budweiser has signed on as the first gold sponsor for the 2010 USA Boxing National Championships and is returning to the amateur boxing scene following a long history with both USA Boxing and the tournament.
The women’s division will enjoy a historic USA Boxing National Championships following the IOC’s decision to add women’s boxing to the Olympic docket at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. Three women’s divisions have been added to Olympic action with the flyweight (106-112 lbs), lightweight (125-132 lbs) and (152-165 lbs) middleweight competitors all earning a shot at Olympic glory. Due to the IOC’s inclusion of women’s boxing, one men’s division was removed and the male boxers will compete in 10 weight classes at the 2010 USA Boxing National Championships.
Several top ranked boxers and returning champions are scheduled to compete in the event, including two-time Olympian and 2007 World Champion Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) who is currently attempting to become the first U.S. boxer to compete in three Olympic Games. Local and regional qualifiers will take place across the nation to determine the final roster of competitors who will vie for a national title in Colorado Springs.
The USA Boxing National Championships have been held annually since 1888, making it the longest running amateur boxing tournament in the United States, and the event consistently showcases future Olympians and future World Champions. Former champions include Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Muhammad Ali (as Cassius Clay).
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).
Top Under-19 Boxers to Descend on Cincinnati at the 2010 Under-19 National Championships, February 9-12
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The 2010 Under-19 National Championships are quickly approaching and the nation’s best Under-19 boxers are gearing up for the first major national championship event of 2010. An elite squad of athletes is expected to compete in the event, which will be contested, February 9-12 at the Cincinnati Hyatt Regency Hotel. The tournament has been opened up to include all senior division female boxers and will showcase many of the top female boxers following the IOC’s decision to allow women’s boxing in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Four days of elite Olympic-style boxing action will be contested in Cincinnati with several reigning and former national champions in both the male and female divisions competing in the highly respected event. All of the male winners in Cincinnati will earn a berth in the 2010 Youth World Championships, April 20-May 2 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Sessions will begin at 7 p.m. daily, with preliminary action taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, semifinal competition being contested on Thursday and final round boxing on Friday. All of the Under-19 National Championships action will take place at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati. The hotel is playing host to its second major USA Boxing event in the past three years following the Midwestern Trials in 2007.
USA Boxing will host an open training session for the media at 2 p.m. on Monday, February 8 at Cincy MMA and Fitness, with several of the top ranked competitors and local participants running through a final training session and conducting interviews.
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.
Athlete registration is currently ongoing and the full registered list of athletes will be released on Monday.
Under-19 National Championships Open Training Sessio
What: Open training session with top 2010 Under-19 National Championships competitors
When: Monday, February 8 at 2 p.m.
Where: Cincy MMA and Fitness, 5728 Harrison Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45428