Quick thoughts on the Light Flyweight Olympic boxing draw.
Official Link to the Light Flyweight Draw

Light Flyweight (-48kg / sub-105 lbs)
This is one of more evenly distributed draws of the tourney. American Luis Yanez is on the opposite side of the bracket from the home town favorite and defending world champ and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Zou Shiming and wouldn’t have to face the world #2 Filipino Harry Tanamor until the semis (Yanez lost to Tanamour in the quarters of the 2007 Worlds) but does have a tough first round bout against Spaniard Kelvin de la Nieve.
Ireland’s Paddy Barnes, who …read more

The New York Daily News is the latest media outlet to examine the lunacy that is the 2008 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. In an article in today’s paper writer Mitch Abramson reveals that it wasn’t just Luis Yanez who clashed with coach Dan Campbell to such an extent that official repercussions were necessary.
No sir indeed. Six (Yanez included) of the nine fighters — that’s right SIX! — have either disappeared, left camp, or failed to show up at a certain point in training in since June. It’s a good thing the team has already left to go to Beijing because …read more

Image details: XV Pan American Games – Day 14 served by picapp.com
He’s back and not a moment too soon. The Dallas Morning News reports that late last night U.S.A. Boxing reinstated its team captain and 106-pound representative Luis Yanez. The team leaves for Beijing next Tuesday.
The terms of the reinstatement attest to www.jabandgrapple.com’s opinion that the suspension was never about what was best for Luis Yanez; instead it was an ill-timed power play by an unqualified coach who has lost his team.
In order to return, the Morning News reports, Yanez must publicly apologize USA Team Boxing CEO, his …read more

Image details: XV Pan American Games – Day 14 served by picapp.com
I love the Olympics so much that boycotts, political posturing, blood doping, and corrupt judges have never been able to dampen my spirits and love for the global competition. But today’s news, as reported by the Dallas Morning News, of American light flyweight Luis Yanez’ official denial to return to the U.S. Boxing Team angers me so much that my love has begun to fade.
The Olympic Games should be about the athletes, not their vindictive, control freak coaches. Yanez earned his chance at the American dream and it should …read more

And then there were eight. Last week, USA Boxing removed Luis Yáñez, its team captain and representative at 105 lbs., from the Olympic Boxing team for disciplinary reasons. The Dallas Morning News reports that the 19-year-old Yáñez repeatedly failed to report to USA Boxing’s Colorado Springs training headquarters and refused to answer his phone for the entire month of June. As a result he is not going to Beijing.
Yáñez has his own side of the story. He says that he was tending to his sister who was in drug rehab and couldn’t be bothered to report his whereabouts to his …read more

Image details: Olympic Test Event – 2007 International Boxing Invitational served by picapp.com
Sunday was a good day for the United States Olympic Boxing Team. Both Shawn Estrada and Michael Hunter II won their bouts in the Guatemala City second Americas Olympic Qualifiers tourney while the rest of the team marched to a decisive 9-2 dual meet victory against the Puerto Rican amateur team in Philadelphia.
Shawn Estrada won his second match of the tourney with a controlling 13-2 against Colombia’s Alexander Brand. Estrada rode to an early 8-2 lead through the second round and held his adversary scoreless the rest of …read more

The full United States Olympic Boxing team is action this weekend. The eight members who have already qualified for Beijing are competing tonight against their Puerto Rican amateur adversaries in Philadelphia while the remaining three are vying for their Olympic spots at the second Americas Qualifier being held this week in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
The Philadelphia event is being held at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. Tickets range from $17 to $67. There are both group and Temple student discounts. The card features a bout in all eleven weight classes and is headlined by future American stars including the flashy lightweight Sadam …read more