Pavlik Withdraws from Cunningham Fight; U.S. Olympic Team Trials results

YOUNGSTOWN (August 2, 2011) – Former World Middleweight Champion and current World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 1-rated super middleweight contender KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK’s professional boxing comeback took a wrong turn inasmuch as Pavlik withdrew from his upcoming 10-round bout against Darryl Cunningham today. The Pavlik-Cunningham bout was scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, OH, and was to be televised live on SHOWTIME® as the main event of a special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation. Both the broadcast and the live event have been canceled. Ticketholders can get a refund by returning their tickets to the place of purchase..

“Top Rank is very disappointed at Kelly’s sudden decision to discontinue the rebuilding of his boxing career,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, Pavlik’s promoter. “Kelly’s team specifically outlined a strategy for Kelly to return to the ring in an effective fashion. Kelly’s team gave us their objectives and we set them on a course, which began last May with Kelly’s fight against Alfonso Lopez and was to continue on Saturday against Darryl Cunningham. It seems Kelly has derailed this plan.”

U.S. Olympic Team Trials Challengers Bout Results

Please find the full results from tonight’s challengers bracket bouts from the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing attached as an addendum to the earlier release.

108 lbs: David Carlton, Cincinnati, Ohio, dec. Gregory Outlaw, Glenarden, Md., 15-11
108 lbs: Santos Vasquez, Sparks, Nev., won on disqualification over Marco Rangel, Scottsdale, Ariz., DQ
114 lbs: Emilio Sanchez, Pacoima, Calif., dec. Stephon Young, St. Louis, Mo., 23-22
114 lbs: Oscar Cantu, Kingsville, Texas, dec. John Franklin, Fort Carson, Colo., 15-15 (78-73)
123 lbs: Luis Feliciano, Milwaukee, Wis., dec. Joet Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif., 14-12
123 lbs: Tramaine Williams, New Haven, Conn., dec. Joe Perez, Fountain, Colo., 15-8
132 lbs: Kenneth Sims Jr., Chicago Ill., dec. Louis Cruz, Bronx, N.Y., 31-16
132 lbs: Toka Khan Clary, Providence, R.I., dec. Erick DeLeon, 20-19
141 lbs: Duran Caferro, Helena, Mont., won on disqualification over Semajay Thomas, Chicago, Ill., DQ
141 lbs: George Rincon, Carrollton, Texas, dec. Michael Reed, Waldorf, Md., 23-23 (110-108)
152 lbs: Bryant Perrella, Lehigh Acres, Fla., dec. Willie Jones, Charlotte, N.C., 10-11
152 lbs: Samuel Vasquez, Fort Carson, Colo., dec. Arturo Trujillo, Easton, Pa., 19-10
165 lbs: Edgar Alvarado, San Bernadino, Calif., dec. D’Mitrius Ballard, Temple Hills, Md., 26-24
165 lbs: Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis., dec. Chris Pearson, Trotwood, Ohio, 16-16 (83-78)
178 lbs: Jeffery Spencer, Fort Carson, Colo., dec. Shaborn Ryals, Capitol Heights, Md., 12-11
178 lbs: Siju Shabazz, Las Cruces, N.M., dec. Caleb Plant, Ashland City, Tenn., 15-15 (87-80)
201 lbs: Steve Geffrard, Boca Raton, Fla., dec. Robert Jekabson, Chicago, Ill., 23-20
201 lbs: Joseph Williams, Bronx, N.Y., dec. Andrew Tabiti, Las Vegas, Nev., 26-14
201+ lbs: Laron Mitchell, San Francisco, Calif., won on disqualification over Brett Rather, Las Vegas, Nev., DQ
201+ lbs: Dominic Breazale, Alhambra, Calif., dec. Jonathan Hamm, St. Paul, Minn., 20-10

Twenty Athletes Live to Box Another Day Following Victories in Challengers Bracket Action at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing

(MOBILE, ALA.) – The third day of action at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing showcased 20 challengers on Tuesday night at the Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, Ala. The 40 boxers competing in the evening’s action were all fighting for tournament lives with 20 boxers going home on Tuesday. Several bouts were decided by close margins as the contestants left everything they had in the ring with numerous bouts coming down to tiebreakers.

2011 USA Boxing National Championships silver medalist Toka Kahn Clary (Providence, R.I.) and three-time National Golden Gloves champion Erick DeLeon (Lincoln Park, Mich.) faced off in one of the best bouts of the evening in their challengers bracket contest. DeLeon took the first lead and held on to a slim advantage throughout the bout, going into the final round up one. Yet Kahn Clary didn’t give up, giving DeLeon a standing eight count in the final seconds of the bout to win a 20-19 final decision.

George Rincon (Carrollton, Texas) defeated another reigning National Golden Gloves titlist in his light welterweight contest with Michael Reed (Waldorf, Md.). Once again, the bout was close throughout but Rincon held a slim one-point lead as the contest moved into the last three minutes of action. When the final bell sounded, the two boxers were deadlocked at 15 and Rincon claimed the win on his 83-81 total punch count advantage.

The last two middleweight national champions faced off on Tuesday night with 2011 titlist Chris Pearson (Trotwood, Ohio) and 2010 gold medalist Luis Arias (Milwaukee, Wis.) competing for one spot. It was Arias claiming a two-point lead and extending it to a still tenuous three-point advantage after two. Pearson came flying back in the third, tying the bout in the final seconds. Yet Arias won the 16-16 tiebreaker on his 87-78 total punch count edge.

Following what seemed to be the theme of the night, the light heavyweight showdown between 2010 National Champion Jeffery Spencer (Fort Carson, Colo.) and Last Chance Qualifier titlist Shaborn Ryals (Capitol Heights, Md.) went down to the wire. Yet Spencer remained alive in the tournament with a 12-11 decision over Ryals.

2010 USA Boxing Athlete of the Year Steve Geffrard (Boca Raton, Fla.) survived Tuesday’s action as well, winning a 23-20 decision over Last Chance Qualifier champion Robert Jekabson (Chicago, Ill.).

In a battle of two familiar foes, 2011 USA Boxing National Champion Jonathan Hamm (St. Paul, Minn.) took on Dominic Breazale (Alhambra, Calif.) in the final bout of the evening. The towering boxers went toe-to-toe but Breazale won the bout on a 20-10 decision.

The winners bracket will return to action on Wednesday with all of the boxers competing for a spot in the tournament final bout while the challenger bracket takes part in third day competition.

The 2011 Junior Olympic National Championships opened their tournament on Tuesday with first round bouts taking place in the morning session at the Mobile Civic Center. The full results from the first day of junior action can be found below.

Wednesday’s Olympic Trials Bout Sheets

Winners Bracket
108 lbs: Louie Byrd, Denver, Colo., vs. Eros Correa, San Jose, Calif.
114 lbs: Rau’shee Warren, Cincinnati, Ohio vs. Shawn Simpson, Chicago, Ill.
123 lbs: Joseph Diaz, Jr., El Monte, Calif., vs. O’Shanique Foster, Orange, Texas
132 lbs: Raynell Williams, Cleveland, Ohio vs. Jose Ramirez, Avenal, Calif.
141 lbs: Pedro Sosa, Bronx, N.Y., vs. Jamel Herring, Coram, N.Y.
152 lbs: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas vs. Amir Imam, Albany, N.Y.
165 lbs: Jesse Hart, Philadelphia, Pa., vs. Antoine Douglas, Burke, Va.
178 lbs: Jerry Odom, Bowie, Md., vs. Marcus Browne, Staten Island, N.Y.
201 lbs: Michael Hunter, Las Vegas, Nev., vs. Jordan Shimmell, Staten Island, N.Y.
201+ lbs: Lenroy Thompson, Lenexa, Kansas vs. Andrew Shepherd, Fort Carson, Colo.

Challengers Bracket
108 lbs: David Carlton, Cincinnati, Ohio vs. Santos Vasquez, Sparks, Nev.
114 lbs: Emilio Sanchez, Pacoima, Calif., vs. Oscar Cantu, Kingsville, Texas
123 lbs: Tramaine Williams, New Haven, Conn., vs. Luis Feliciano, Milwaukee, Wis.
132 lbs: Kenneth Sims, Jr., Chicago, Ill., vs. Toka Kahn Clary, Providence, R.I.
141 lbs: Duran Caferro, Helena, Mont., vs. George Rincon, Carrollton, Texas
152 lbs: Bryant Perrella, Lehigh Acres, Fla., vs. Samuel Vasquez, Fort Carson, Colo.
165 lbs: Luis Aris, Milwaukee, Wis., vs. Edgar Alvarado, Jr., San Bernadino, Calif.
178 lbs: Jeffery Spencer, Fort Carson, Colo., vs. Siju Shabazz, Las Cruces, N.M.
201 lbs: Steve Geffrard, Boca Raton, Fla., vs. Joseph Williams, Bronx, N.Y.
201+ lbs: Laron Mitchell, San Francisco, Calif., vs. Dominic Breazale, Alhambra, Calif.

Edgar Alvarado
“I was down a point and tried to pick it up the last round and throw small combinations.” When the official took a point away it made me more anxious to win.”

“Going into the fight, my coach told me to use my jab and keep my distance.”

Luis Feliciano
“Being in the challengers bracket it’s do or die, win or go home. I’m willing to do anything to get this Olympic spot.”

“I tried to use my distance in this fight, and I’m pretty sure I won the fight in the last thirty seconds.”

“Going into the last round and knowing it was close, I tried to keep my composure and I had a lot of experience to help me with that.

“Against Tramaine Williams, I’m going to have to apply pressure.”

Luis Arias
“I knew Chris Pearson was coming hard and ready, it was whoever wanted it the most that was going to win.”

“I tired a little at the end, my body more so then my lungs. I just had to dig deep.”

“I knew I was just as strong and fast as my opponent, and I had a good game plan and we stuck to it.”

“Edgar Alvarado and I had a good fight in the first round and expect another.”

Steve Geffrard

“Tonight I felt great, I was landing the cleaner blows and using my jab from the outside.”

“I knew I couldn’t stand in front of Robert Jekabson, because I knew he had power.”

“I think I can definitely beat Joseph Williams in the next round, it’s going to be a chess match.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing Michael Hunter in the finals, but I got to take it one day at a time.”

Junior Olympic Results
101 lbs/male: Elijah Shabazz, Woodstick, Ga., dec. Saul Cano, Oswego, Ill., 14-10
101 lbs/male: Dequandra Steward, Shreveport, La., dec. Ray Lee Cudrado, Worcester, Mass., 9-9 (53-50)
101 lbs/male: Pablo Ramirez, Weslaco, Texas, dec. Nathaniel Pacheco, Lakewood, Colo., 21-8
101 lbs/male: Isaias Perez, Kansas City, Kan., dec. Eric Marrero, Philadelphia, Pa., 13-9
106 lbs/male: Matthew Espinoza, Crestview, Fla., dec. Ariel Vega, Miami, Fla., 20-14
106 lbs/male: Matthew Espinoza, Crestview, Fla., dec. Ariel Vega, Miami, Fla., 20-14
110 lbs/male: James Taylor, Ann Arbor, Mich., dec. Lawrence Newton, Deerfield, Fla., 11-9
114 lbs/male: Efren Lopez, Fresno, Calif., dec. Jesus Rivera, Apple Valley, Minn., 5-0
114 lbs/male: Ja’Rico O’Quinn, Detroit, Mich., dec. Kenneth Davis, Reno, Nev., 29-27
114 lbs/male: Luis Santiago, Springfield, Ma., dec. Santiago Arroyo, Winter Haven, Fla., 14-5
114 lbs/male: Donovan Estrella, Arvada, Colo., dec. Marc Torrez, Pasadena, Texas, 10-10 (61-55)
114 lbs/male: Gary Russell, Capitol Heights, Md., dec. Marco Ojeda, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., 24-11
119 lbs/male: D’Andres Hockerson, Rochester, N.Y., dec. Christopher Murphy, Deerfield Beach, Fla., 19-
11
119 lbs/male: Justly Laquihon, Honolulu, Hawaii, dec. Carlos Carrillo, Denver, Colo., 12-7
119 lbs/male: Gary Salazar, Fresno, Calif., dec. Jousce Gonzales, Glendora, Calif., 17-7
119 lbs/male: Isidro Flores Jr., Fort Wayne, Kan., dec. Hector Rendon, Tacoma, Wash., 28-24
119 lbs/male: Roberto Tamez, Houston, Texas, dec. Adan Rodriguez, Wichita, Kan., 20-16
119 lbs/male: Joshua McKoy, Lauel, Md., dec. E’Kearn Perro, Carencro, La., 16-8
125 lbs/male: Gervonta Davis, Baltimore, Md., dec. Jason Sanchez, Albuquerque, N.M., 15-10
125 lbs/male: Cresencio Ramos Jr., San Antonio, Texas, dec. Eder Carrillo, Woodland, Calif., 15-7
125 lbs/male: Kevin Salgado, Chicago, Ill., dec. Francisco Esparza, Las Vegas, Nev., 16-8
125 lbs/male: Mason Cornelio, Honolulu, Hawaii, dec. Quanatavious Green, Shreveport, La., 18-16
125 lbs/male: Efrain Estrada, Hillsboro, Ore., dec. abram Martinez, Rock Springs, Wyo., 10-6
132 lbs/female: Isabella Nieves, Kenosha, Wis., dec. Nakarri Jones, Tampa, Fla., 17-15
132 lbs/female: Rashida Ellis, St. Lynn, Ma., dec. Dezaree Negrete, Calumet City, Ill., 30-6
132 lbs/male: Alexis Del Bosque, Garland, Texas, Cris Marraro, Saugus, Miss., 18-8
132 lbs/male: Austin Dulay, Hendersonville, Tenn., dec. Luis Chavez, Salinas, Calif., 15-12
132 lbs/male: Jeremaul Jones, Fort Wayne, Ind., dec. Henry Gomez, Los Angeles, Calif., 19-15
132 lbs/male: Erickson Lubin, Kissimnee, Fla., dec. Jahmell Jett II, 20-3
138 lbs/male: Nicholas Torrance, Evans, Ga., dec. Jamontay Clark, Cincinnati, Ohio, 14-14 (78-62)
138 lbs/male: Adrain Gutierrez, Chula Vista, Calif., dec. Rae Jon Higginbottam, Clinton, Miss., 27-6
145 lbs/male: Jelame Garcia, Lynn, Mass., dec. Chase Calloway, St. Joseph, Mo. 14-9
145 lbs/male: DeAndre Woods, Jackson, Tenn., dec. Nyck Price, Columbus, Ohio, 15-15 (86-62)
154 lbs/male: Moses Taylor, Detroit, Mich., dec. Tywaski Hendrix, Hot Springs, Ark., 10-5
154 lbs/male: Flavio Becerra, White Bear Lake, Minn., wins on walkover over Cameron Grady, Mandan, N.D., W/O
154 lbs/male: Jazavian Palmer, Lubbock, Texas, dec. Kendall Breaux, Carencro, La., 14-11
165 lbs/male: Anthony Sims Jr., Ypsilanti, Mich., John Luna, Milwaukee, Wis., 19-9
165 lbs/male: Alex Rincon, Carrollton, Texas, dec. Richard Johnson, Plainfield, N.J., 18-8
165 lbs/male: Jonathan Esquivel, Anaheim, Calif., stopped Anthony Hernandez, Fountain, Colo., RSC-1 (1:29)
176 lbs/male: Joel Galvan, Grafton, N.D., stopped Clayton Crutchfield, Sheridan, Ark., RSC-2 (1:59)
176 lbs/male: Edel Gomez, Fremont, N.E., won on walkover over Pedro Cervantes, Denver, Colo., W/O
176 lbs/male: Hakin Lopez, Lithonia, Ga., dec. Victor Serna, Fresno, Calif., 16-8
165 lbs/male: Daquan Johnson, Capitol Heights, Md., dec. Demarkus Manter, Akron, Ohio, 23-21

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).