Colorado Springs to Host the 2008 U.S. Future Stars National Championship

(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The United States’ OIympic-style boxing talent will be on full display, March 9-14 as the nation’s top male and female boxers compete in the U.S. Future Stars National Championship at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The event, which was known as the U.S. Championships in previous years, will showcase many of the athletes who will be vying for the 2012 Olympic Games in four years.. Both male and female athletes will compete in the premier amateur boxing event with eleven national champions crowned on the men’s side and fifteen titlists in women’s action.

The event is returning to the Olympic Training Center after a one-year hiatus, and all five days of action will be contested at the OTC. The newly named competition provides an important step into the future on both the competition side as well as technologically. For the first time, a new computer scoring system, which will also be used at the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games, will be showcased in the United States. The Swiss Timing equipment will conduct the tournament draw, create bout sheets for the event as well as serve as the electronic scoring system. The system was recently used at the 2007 World Championships in Chicago, Ill.

Regional action is currently being contested nationwide to determine the competitors in both the men’s and women’s divisions. The male and female events are being held together for the fourth straight year with initial combined competition taking place in Colorado Springs in 2005.

Preliminary round action will kick off on Sunday, March 9 and run through Tuesday, March 11 with sessions beginning and noon and 6 p.m. Semifinal competition in both the men’s and women’s divisions will be contested at noon and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12. The 2008 U.S. Future Stars National Championship will conclude with women’s final round competition at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 13 and men’s championship action at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 14. Tickets for preliminary round action will be available for $2 per day, semifinal round tickets and women’s championship round will be $5, and men’s championship night tickets are $20.

The full athlete lists will be released on Monday, February 25 upon the completion of all the regional competitions. The U.S. Championships were held annually since 1888, making it the longest running boxing tournament in the United States. Numerous Olympic and professional boxing champions got their start at the U.S. Championships, including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Oscar de la Hoya, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

2008 U.S. Future Stars National Championship Schedule

Preliminary Rounds: Sunday, March 9 – Tuesday, March 11 – Noon and 6 p.m. (Tickets – $2 per day, will include both sessions)

Semifinal Round: Wednesday, March 12 – Noon and 6 p.m. (Tickets – $5 per day, will include both sessions)

Women’s Championship Bouts: Thursday, March 13 – 7 p.m. (Tickets – $5)

Men’s Championship Bouts: Friday, March 14 – 7 p.m. (Tickets – $5)

All competition will take place in Sportscenter I at the U.S. Olympic Training Center