Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas boxers 2-for-4 on first day of Olympic trials

The first-day results for the four Las Vegans competing in the United States Boxing Trials that will help determine the U.S. Olympic team: two wins, two losses.

Each of the four Las Vegans fought Wednesday night in Oakland, with Augie Sanchez (125 pounds) and Ishe Smith (139) earning victories. Less fortunate were Limmie Young (178) and Charles Shufford (super heavyweight), as they lost and will now have to win six straight fights if they're to make the Olympic team that will compete in Atlanta this summer.

It's a double-elimination format for the trials, with the eventual winner in each of the 12 weight classes advancing to the Olympic Box-Offs April 18-20 in Augusta, Ga. The runner-up in each weight class also advances to the Box-Offs.

The two youngest of the four Las Vegans won their bouts, as the 18-year-old Sanchez -- a senior at Cheyenne High School -- decisioned Mark Burse of St. Louis by a 23-10 score, and the 17-year-old Smith -- a junior at Durango High -- won by disqualification over Deron Ferguson of the U.S. Army at 2:50 of the third round.

Young, 23, was stopped by Antonio Tarver of Orlando, Fla., at 1:36 of the third round. Shufford, 22, lost an 11-10 decision to Joseph Mesi of Tonawanda, N.Y.

In Young's case, he was clearly the underdog, going up against a gold medalist from last year's Pan American Games. Tarver built up a 12-0 lead after two rounds and had Young's nose bloodied. With Young taking punishment late in the third round, the referee stopped the contest.

All 96 competitors in the Olympic Trials will fight again today. The finals are Sunday.

Among the losers of note in other first-round bouts were a pair of reigning U.S. champions, lightweight Brian Adams of Brooklyn, N.Y., and welterweight David Palac of Hamtramck, Mich. Also beaten was junior welterweight Hector Camacho Jr., the son of the professional fighter of the same name.

Among the winners was Floyd Mayweather, a 19-year-old who fights at 125 pounds and is the son of a former pro fighter and the brother of pro fighters Jeff and Roger Mayweather of Las Vegas. Floyd Mayweather, who lives in Michigan, stopped Clay Jenkins of the U.S. Army in the third round.

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