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 lost to Zou in the 2007 quarters) received a terrific draw. He was gifted with the randomly assigned first round bye and should sail into the quarters in not the semis where he could meet Zou again.

(NOTE All Times are Eastern U.S. time)
First Round:
Wednesday, August 13
First Session 1:30 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. EST
Second Session 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. EST

Round of 16:
Saturday, August 16
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. EST

Quarterfinals
Tuesday, August 19
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. EST

Semifinals
Friday, August 22
7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. EST

Finals
Sunday, August 24
1:30 a.m. EST

Post from: EveryJoe

Olympic Boxing Draw: Light Flyweights

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 it is much harder to run away while in China. We think the Olympics are about athletes and not coaches and that Campbell should have been gone a long time ago. Nevertheless, it’s too late for that.

Gary Russell, Jr. won a bronze at the 2005 World Amateurs and is a medal favorite this year. His father explained the team’s situation and difficulties with Coach Campbell to the Daily News:

(Campbell) had so many arguments with these boxers it’s like he’s setting them all up for failure. He’s threatened to throw Sadam (Ali), Demetrius (Andrade), Rau’Shee (Warren), Javier (Molina), Gary, and Luis all off the team. That’s six boxers, more than half the team. Something has to be wrong if you’re threatening to get rid of half the team. It can’t all be the fault of the boxers.”

The 65-year old Campbell counters with the fact that he’s been through rough times. He cites the civil rights struggle (an odd non-sequitur), two tours in the Vietnam War, and the fact that he’s been a single parent four times. Does that also mean he’s been divorced four times? Because that doesn’t bode well for his compromising skills.

Campbell’s crotchety old man-isms aside, this team appears to be in trouble. But who knows? Maybe they’ll be so angry at their coach that the team will draw from their disdain and be launched to untold accomplishments. ESPN talking heads lionize Bill Parcells and Bobby Knight for the anger they channel from their team onto themselves and then outward onto opponents.

What do you say?

Parcells hasn’t won a Super Bowl in 18 years because the athletes are different today and not as receptive to bullying tactics and hate-baiting?

Knight’s last NCAA title was 21 years ago and since then his teams have routinely lost in the tourney’s first round?

You say old school Vince Lombardi methods went out with Swatch watches, Member’s Only Jackets, Rubik’s Cubes, Garbage Pail Kids, and Parachute Pants?

Just don’t tell Mr. Campbell because he thinks he has a good thing going on.

At this point the only thing that will change U.S. Boxing’s archaic training methods is absolute failure at Beijing 2008 and no one wants to see that happen. Once August 9 rolls around and the boxing competition begins I will be glued to my couch hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Plot Thickens With Team Turmoil

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 coach Dan Campbell, and his teammates. He must also say that his actions were wrong and agree to pay back training costs for sessions he didn’t attend.

We wonder what exactly did Yanez do wrong?

On the surface Yanez’ main goal would seem to be winning the Olympic Gold medal. But in reality his real goal is to establish himself as an attractive and viable professional fighter, showcase his talents to the utmost, and set himself up with a top flight promoter. His secondary goal is one we all share: take care of our family and be with them in a time of need.

Prior to his forbidden leave of absence and subsequent suspension Yanez clashed with his Olympic coach. To Yanez and his longtime personal boxing trainer the Olympic coach’s instructions were harming Luis’ skills in a serious way sucking away his inner fire and dampening his ability to perform.

Boxing is not a team sport. Yanez is an adult and must do what he believes is necessary to help himself. Prior to Campbell’s appointment Yanez won a Pan-American Games Gold Medal and qualified for the Olympic Games via a quarterfinal appearance at the World Championships. The U.S. Boxing coaching staff did not contribute to any of Yanez’ amateur success. If Luis and his longtime coach believed that U.S. Boxing were harming his prospects shouldn’t they be taken seriously?

Yanez’ public reason for going AWOL from the team’s mandatory Colorado Springs relocation was that his sister entered drug rehab for crack cocaine addiction and that he was needed at home to help take care of her four children.

What would you do if faced with Yanez’ situation? What responsibility does Yanez’ owe to his teammates in the quintessential individual sport? Are the Olympics about coaches or about athletes?

Post from: EveryJoe

Luis Yanez Reinstated; Will Go To Beijing

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 not be taken away because of he did not adhere to U.S. Boxing’s Draconian residence program and stone age coaching methods. Methods that fightbeat.com revealed to be effectively removing the Boxing team members’ spontaneity, individuality, marketability and athleticism.

Yanez’ Attorney has stated that their next step could be a federal injunction to get Luis back on the team. But maybe it’s best if Yanez just gets off this sinking ship and embarks on what promises to be a successful professional career.

Post from: EveryJoe

Luis Yanez Loses Appeal to Remain on Olympic Boxing Team

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 coach for an entire month. Yáñez is appealing his ban.

USA Boxing coach Dan Campbell has struck first in what may prove to be a vicious war of words. The Dallas Morning News again quotes Campbell as calling Yáñez “one of the biggest liars I’ve ever met.”

On www.fightbeat.com, however, Yáñez’s Dallas-based personal coach went into great deal about Campbell’s poor coaching especially in reference to Luis. “I feel like Luis gets a better workout in Dallas than he does in Colorado Springs.”

The article details how Campbell stifles the team’s more flamboyant personalities – Yáñez, Sadam Ali, and Javier Molina - forcing them to be vanilla, bland, and straight-forward. What happened to the America’s Olympic heritage of flashy boxers? Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammed Ali? What if they had been told to tone it down? Would they have trained elsewhere?

Luis’ former Olympic teammate Molina concurred “I’d rather be home getting ready for Beijing. I’m really not sure how much Dan knows about boxing. (H)e tries to make all of us fight in the same exact style. I don’t have confidence in him and I don’t trust him.”

We wonder how a coach so reviled and inexperienced could have landed the position of USA Boxing head trainer? Why couldn’t more money have been spent on a viable coach? If Yáñez is let back then Campbell’s authority will surely have been undermined, and he sounds like a fellow who WILL NOT BE UNDERMINED! Will Yáñez’ dismissal be a precursor to more dismissals? Perhaps the Draconian arm of USA Boxing law should be focused elsewhere and away from its athletes.

Below is a youtube of Yáñez’ fight against April 26 fight against Puerto Rican amateur Ryan Aquino. It might be the last time you see Yáñez as an amateur.

Post from: EveryJoe

Luis Yáñez Removed From U.S. Olympic Boxing Team

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 the way. Estrada will face Brazilian Yamaguchi Florentino on Tuesday; that fight’s winner will go to Beijing.

Super heavyweight Michael Hunter II pulled out a gutsy 4-3 win late Sunday night against Canadian Dilier Bence. He will face Venezuelan Jose Payares on Tuesday for the Beijing berth. At last month’s first America’s Qualifiers in Trinidad both Hunter and Payares lost to eventual champion Cuban Alfonso Acea. Hunter fell in the finals 9-1 while Payares lost in the semis 9-3.

Four already-qualified future Olympians competed in the Philly meet, all four recording dominating victories. Light flyweight Luis Yanez, flyweight Rau’shee Warren, and light welterweight Javier Molina all had their bouts stopped in the third round because they had opened twenty-point leads on their opponent.

Lightweight Sadam Ali went the full four but managed his own 20 point spread defeating his adversary 40-20 with the help of a boisterous Liacouras Center crowd.

On Wednesday jabandgrabble.com will list and provide profile links for the entire Olympic squad as well as update you on Hunter and Estrada’s quest. Hopefully we will have good news.

Post from: EveryJoe

United States Olympic Boxing Team Has Good Sunday

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 “World Kid” Ali, 2004 Olympian and current flyweight world champ Rau’shee Warren, and Pan Am Games gold medalist light flyweight Luis Yanez.

The event is also being advertised as streaming live online at www.gofightlive.tv

2,000 miles south of Philly middleweight Shawn Estrada, light heavyweight Christopher Downs, and super heavyweight Michael Hunter II are fighting to join their teammates in Beijing. Sadly, Guatemala City has not been kind to Christopher Downs. The 6′4″ 33-year-old U.S. Army sergeant first class lost on Friday 5-3 to Ecuador’s Cesar Castillo Torres and been knocked out of the tourney.

Downs was battling to become the oldest ever U.S. boxing Olympian but in the end a slipped disk in his back and a severely twisted ankle hindered his ability to compete against the young amateurs. Downs, an Iraq War veteran, had impressed early at last month’s first America qualifiers but his Beijing quest was not to be.

Estrada kept his dream alive with an opening bout win on Friday and Hunter begins his journey tomorrow.

Post from: EveryJoe

United States Olympic Boxing Team Battles This Weekend