Rusty Rubin, Managing Editor
www.ringsports.com

As expected the US Amateur team, perhaps with many of the same names that will be fighting in Athens in 2004, drew a big crowd at the City Center Pavilion in Reno, to cheer on the team against the same team that France will be fielding in the upcoming Olympic Games.

The preview featured 11 matches in 11 weight classes. All were entertaining, but some clearly more exciting then others. All were four, two minute affairs.

In the first match-up, at 106 lbs. Rayonta Whitfield of team USA took a 23-21 victory over Redoune Asloum. Whitfield really had to work, coming from behind in the final two rounds to take the medal.

Jerome Thomas evened the score, using a height advantage to out-land the game Raul Martinez, 22-14 in the 112 lb. class.

Match three, at 119 lbs. saw the French team take over the lead when Ali Hallab took a 21-8 win over a game Sergio Ramos.

The fourth match, at 125 lbs. evened up the contest as Aaron Garcia easily overcame the height advantage of Khedafi Dijelkhir to post a 28-15 win. Garcia, from Vista, California, looks like a natural for our Olympic team.

The 5th contest was fought at 132 lbs., and featured a strong Vicente Escobedo of Team USA came on late in the fight to take a decision from a tall Saber Bouzaiane, 21-15.

The 6th match gave Team USA a 4-2 lead, as Lamont Peterson took the measure of Willy Blain, in a more strategic then exciting contest at 141 lbs., 8-5.

USA looked like they would lead the meet to 5-2, when, at 152 lbs. Xavier Noel of France, made it close with a close 13-12 win over a game Andre Berto. Noel had a huge height advantage in this one.

With the score now 4-3, Andre Dirrell again gave team USA a two bout lead, with a 10-6 win over a very tall and skilled Mamadou Diambang. Dirrell showed that he too has a good chance to make our Olympic team.

One of the favorites for the Olympic Team, Andre Ward of Oakland, who hasn’t lost since 1998, made it a guaranteed winning night for the American Team, by just edging out a tough John Dovi 7-6, at 178 lbs.

The French got a bit closer, when Christophe Dettinger took a 17-12 nod over Charles Ellis at 201 lbs.

In the final bout, Jason Estrada, took an 8-4 win over Mehdi Aouiche, making the final score of the meet 7-4 USA.

Thanks to the folks at the Eldorado, Silver Legacy, Harrahs and Circus Circus to make it all possible.

Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you.

Glove2Glove:

Glad to report that promoter Moe Smith is back at work and doing fine after his heart surgery.

Please say prayers for the soul of Hungarian amateur great Lazlo Papp, who passed away earlier this month.

Please say prayers for former top-notch fighter Art Soto, who is having some severe health problems from Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Say a prayer for the return to health of great boxer Mando Ramos, who is badly hurting, a result of an unsuccessful back surgery.

Please say prayers for Phill Grazide of Santa Rosa, CA. a big supporter of amateur boxing, who is suffering the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis.

Chas. Shandor, father in law of Ringsports.com writer Nick Constantine has been diagnosed with cancer and needs your prayers.

Your prayers have worked and Martin Sommers is no longer in hospice care, and in fact, is at home recovering. He and his family pass along their heartfelt thanks, and ask that your prayers continue.

Also down but not out with cancer is Kathy Ceravola, sister of top referee Elmo Adolph, and my best friend and co-founder of Glove2Glove, Susiey Walker.
Needless to say we need prayers for the return to health of both former champs Greg Page and Gerald McClellan, both confined to wheelchairs.

Glove2Glove is a non-denominational group set up to aide those boxing folks and their relatives in need of prayers and cards. We accept no money and only contact our members when someone is in need. It’s free to join. Simply send us your e-mail address. And even if you’re not a member, feel free to contact us if you are aware of some boxing person in need.

Touching on politics briefly:

I’m very cynical about a lot of things in my old age. Besides the very uninformed American electorate, I am also waiting (and hope not to see) weapons of mass destruction that we have placed in the Iraqi desert to help re-elect the President. The ‘see I was right all along’ approach seems to always work to help add popularity to an unpopular war.

I’m also very cynical about Saddam Hussein pushing for the terrorist attacks on his country and being behind it. I think this also can be a ‘wag the dog’ approach, as I’ve long held that Osama Bin Laden would love to get his hands on and control this oil rich country. Besides Saddam is looking out for his own ass right now and doesn’t have time to organize any resistance.

It’s easy to blame a toothless Hussein as long as he’s still alive, but I don’t think his death would change a thing in regard to the terrorist attack on our coalition forces. The true terrorists are the Al Qaeda related Jihadist groups, and I that believe history will prove me right.***

It’s a bit scary, hearing the Hillary Clinton is still the favorite among Democrats to run against President Bush next year. To me it comes down to a choice between someone I don’t trust, Dick “Haliburton” Cheney, and someone I can’t stand, Hillary “Martha Stewart is my friend” Clinton. Hell of a choice if it happens.

Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you. Your responses are most welcome and the best will be posted as they arrive.