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(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The United States Olympic Boxing Team will lead a team of the nation’s top boxers into top level competition, February 23-March 1 in Russia. The squad will compete in two duals while in Russia, beginning with a February 24 match-up in Magnitogrosk, Russia. The two nations will face off a second time on February 29 in Novosibirsk, Russia. The United States squad will depart for Russia from Colorado Springs on Tuesday, February 19.
The 10-man squad is a joint-team of 2008 Olympians and national team members with welterweight Olympian Demetrius Andrade (Providence, R.I.); light heavyweight Olympian Christopher Downs (Fort Carson, Colo.); heavyweight Olympian Deontay Wilder (Tuscaloosa, Ala.); and super heavyweight Michael Hunter (Las Vegas, Nev.) all competing in the international dual. The Olympic team members will be joined by flyweight Bruno Escalante (Waimanalo, Hawaii); bantamweight David Clark (San Diego, Calif.); lightweight Miguel Gonzalez (Cleveland, Ohio); light welterweight Daniel O’Connor (Framingham, Mass.); light heavyweight Siju Shabazz (Las Cruces, N.M.); and heavyweight David Carey (Anchorage, Alaska);
USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Dan Campbell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and 2008 Olympic Coaches Robert Martin (Washington D.C.) and Willy Price (Peshtigo, Wis.) will lead the team in Russia. Mike Rosario (New York, N.Y.) and Kevin Franklin (McDonough, Ga.) will serve as the AIBA Officials with Richard Trindle (Mercer, Pa.) working as the Team Manager and Dr. Robin Goodfellow (Albion, Mich.) joining the delegation as the Team Physician.
The International Dual will be the first trip to Russia for a United States senior men’s team since the 2005 AIBA World Cup. The event will feature a match-up between the top two amateur boxing nations from the 2007 AIBA World Championships in Chicago, Ill., and will provide important international experience for all 14 members of the United States team. The United States team participated in a preparatory training camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs prior to departing for Russia. In the three heaviest weight divisions, there are two U.S. boxers traveling to Russia and each boxer will compete in one of the two duals. Downs, Wilder, and Hunter will all compete in the first dual event on February 24 with Shabazz, Carey and Wilson boxing in the second competition on February 29.
Team USA
112 lbs/51 kg: Bruno Escalante, Waimanalo, Hawaii
119 lbs/54 kg: David Clark, San Diego, California
132 lbs/60 kg: Miguel Gonzalez, Cleveland, Ohio
141 lbs/64 kg: Daniel O’Connor, Framingham, Massachusetts
152 lbs/69 kg: Demetrius Andrade, Providence, Rhode Island (2008 U.S. Olympian)
178 lbs/81 kg: Christopher Downs, Fort Carson, Colorado (2008 U.S. Olympian)
178 lbs/81 kg: Siju Shabazz, Las Cruces, New Mexico
201 lbs/91 kg: Deontay Wilder, Tuscaloosa, Alabama (2008 U.S. Olympian)
201 lbs/91 kg: David Carey, Anchorage, Alaska
201+ lbs/91+ kg: Michael Hunter, Las Vegas, Nevada (2008 U.S. Olympian)
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