Columnist Dean Juipe: USA Boxing looking for a few good men

Dean Juipe

Thursday, April 4, 2002 | 10:50 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

These days, the U.S. military has a heightened presence in a number of areas around the world but especially in the Middle East.

But back in a marginally more peaceful time, the military enjoyed a heightened presence on America's Olympic boxing team. In 1988, in fact, no fewer than four members of the armed forces -- Kennedy McKinney, Anthony Hembrick, Ray Mercer and Andrew Maynard -- represented the United States in the Olympic Games.

That '88 team, coincidentally or not, was the country's last strong Olympic boxing team, taking three gold medals (each won by its armed-forces contingent). America's 2000 Olympic team, which failed to win a gold medal, did not have a military representative.

The significance is that not only those associated with the armed forces but those with USA Boxing would like to see one or more members of the military win titles in the ongoing Everlast U.S. Men's Championships that conclude Saturday at Caesars Palace. The tournament's champions will have the inside track on landing a berth on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

"A military representation on that team would be great," said USA Boxing president Dr. Robert Voy. "I would think it would make America look a little tougher, if nothing else."

USA Boxing is an umbrella organization that coordinates the champions from the country's Golden Gloves and Police Athletic League programs, as well as champions with Native American ties and from the NCAA and the armed forces. For this week's event, the U.S. Army has 11 competitors taking part while the Air Force and Marines each have nine and the Navy has two.

"We're not as strong as we used to be, but the simple reason for that are the military missions we have going on around the world," said Basheer Abdullah, coach of the U.S. Army team. "The Navy doesn't have a full boxing team very often right now, and the rest of us have our ups and downs.

"All the services have a lot of boxing talent, but the competitors aren't getting as many opportunities now because of the war."

Ron Simms, an assistant coach for the Air Force, agreed.

"The (military) mission always comes first," he said. "We're doing our best, but coming here is a second priority for us."

But Voy called the Air Force squad "pretty strong" and felt the Army reps were more than adequate. He also said "the Air Force Academy is the toughest team in collegiate boxing because each of the cadets has to choose a sport and work out in it every day."

Simms, who is also a budding professional fighter with an 8-0 record as a super middleweight, said his team members are very much aware of America's gold-medal drought.

"They all know it and they each dream of making the Olympic team," he said. "But they also realize they have a more important job that they may be called to perform at any time."

Among the 31 military reps participating in this week's national championships, it's thought that the Army has the best chance of providing a winner. Terrence Daniels, a 119-pounder who dominated his opponent en route to a second-round stoppage victory Wednesday, looks strong, and Julius Fogle (165 pounds) and DeAndrey Abron (178) were cited as potential national champions as well. The latter two are reigning Armed Forces champions.

"We have good leadership in the military and they understand the importance of sports," Abdullah said. "In the Army's case, we have the World Class Athlete Program where we have state-of-the-art facilities and the goal of placing people on the Olympic team."

He adds that those in the military may enjoy a competitive advantage over those from civilian walks of life.

"We have total control," Abdullah said. "We're soldiers and our days are scheduled for us. Civilians may have greater distractions."

Saying "this is one the deepest teams I've had," Abdullah is hopeful of placing at least one man on America's 2004 boxing team.

"It's possible we could equal what they did in 1988," he said, "but, realistically, I'd be glad to see one or two of our guys get that far."

One more McClain quote, on former light heavyweight champ Montell Griffin leaving him after just a single fight. "Montell didn't like what I had to offer and was talking about a lot of crazy things," McClain said. "I had an ESPN date in June for him and a fight in the Bahamas in August, and I thought those were big plans. But I guess he couldn't see it, so he's gone his own way." Top Rank may use Griffin on an April 26 card in California. ... Cedric Kushner's April 21 card at the Flamingo in Laughlin will offer heavyweights Jeremy Williams (36-4) and David Bostice (27-5-1) as its main event, with fellow heavyweights Samson Po'uha (20-4-1) and Sherman Williams (19-6-1) locking horns in the featured undercard bout. ... Cory Spinks has been training at Tocco's Gym in preparation for his IBF welterweight title fight with Michele Piccirillo in Italy April 13.

Local light heavyweight Joseph Kiwanuka (27-4-2) has taken an April 27 fight with Julio Gonzalez (28-1) in Anaheim. ... The Stratosphere has filled in the gaps on its April 27 card and will have Kevin Kelly (51-5-2) moving up to junior lightweight to meet Raul Martin Franco (23-15-2) for its main event. Junior middleweights Emmett Linton (28-3-1) and Rene Herrera (25-13) top the undercard. ... Stevie Johnston was released from a Colorado prison Wednesday and will be available to fight Alejandro Gonzalez, as scheduled, April 20 at the MGM. Johnston was being held for contempt of court for falling $136,000 in arrears on child-support payments. ... Miguel Cotto (8-0) will meet local junior welterweight Justin Juuko (36-6-1) as part of the May 4 card at Mandalay Bay.

While promoter Don King talked of putting Evander Holyfield vs. Hasim Rahman in Atlantic City with a June 1 date, that fight may yet become part of the June 8 card in Memphis that features Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. ... Local fans may have seen two new referees working recent cards, although neither is a newcomer to the sport. Victor Alegria is a resident of Northern Nevada who was needed down here last week, and Robert Byrd is a veteran of Southern California who has returned to the ring after trying his hand as a judge upon first moving here. "We're happy to take advantage of his experience and use him as a referee," Marc Ratner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission said of Byrd. "He rounds out our staff, and with the number of shows we've had lately we're glad to have someone available who has his credentials."