25.02.08 – COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Three U.S. Olympians kicked off their 2008 competition schedule with wins over Russian opponents, February 24 in Magnitogorsk, Russia. The United States team faced off with Russia’s best in the first of two duals.. Welterweight World Champion Demetrius Andrade (Providence, R.I.) showcased the skills that took him to gold by defeating Russia’s Dmitrii Ivanov and heavyweight Olympian Deontay Wilder (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) recorded an impressive victory, beating 2007 World Championships silver medalist Rakhim Chakhiev. Super heavyweight Olympian Michael Hunter (Las Vegas, Nev.) avenged a loss at the Olympic Test event by defeating Russia’s Denis Sergeev. Andrade’s convincing victory earned him Outstanding Boxer honors at the event.
In addition to the three victories, light heavyweight Olympian Christopher Downs (Fort Carson, Colo.) dropped a close decision to 2007 World Championships silver medalist Artur Beterbiev. Flyweight Bruno Escalante (Waimanalo, Hawaii) lost to former European champion Georgii Balakshin and bantamweight David Clark (San Diego, Calif.) fell to 2007 World Champion Sergey Vodopyanov. Lightweight Miguel Gonzalez (Cleveland, Ohio) led early in his bout with former World Champion Aleksei Tischenko but dropped the final decision, and light welterweight Daniel O’Connor (Framingham, Mass.) fell to 2007 World Championships silver medalist Gennadiy Kovalev. In the second light heavyweight contest, Siju Shabazz (Las Cruces, N.M.) dropped his bout to Sergei Kovalev, and heavyweight David Carey (Anchorage, Alaska) was stopped by Evgeniy Romanov after a large cut opened near his eye.
The two teams will face off in a second dual in Novosibirsk, Russia on Friday, February 29. The wins by Wilder and Hunter continue through their strong boxing internationally following silver medal victories by both boxers at the Olympic Test Event in November.
USA vs. Russia Results
112 lbs/51 kg: Georgii Balakshin, Russia, dec. Bruno Escalante, Waimalo, Hawaii/USA
119 lbs/54 kg: Sergey Vodopyanov, Russia, dec. David Clark, San Diego, Calif./USA
132 lbs/60 kg: Aleksei Tischenko, Russia, dec. Miguel Gonzalez, Cleveland, Ohio/USA
141 lbs/64 kg: Gennadiy Kovalev, Russia, dec. Daniel O’Connor, Framingham, Mass./USA
152 lbs/69 kg: Demetrius Andrade, Providence, R.I./USA dec. Dmitrii Ivanov, Russia
178 lbs/81 kg: Artur Beterviev, Russia, dec. Christopher Downs, Fort Carson, Colo./USA
178 lbs/81 kg: Sergei Kovalev, Russia, dec. Siju Shabazz, Las Cruces, N.M./USA
201 lbs/91 kg: Deontay Wilder, Tuscaloosa, Ala./USA dec. Rakhim Chakhiev, Russia
201 lbs/91 kg: Evgeniy Romanov, Russia stopped David Carey, Anchorage, Alaska/USA
201+ lbs/91+ kg: Michael Hunter, Las Vegas, Nev./USA dec. Denis Sergeev, Russia
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).