2016 US Boxing Olympic TrialsDec 14, 2015 by Flo Boxing
Gary Russell Completes Historic Comeback To Win Olympic Trials Title
Gary Russell Completes Historic Comeback To Win Olympic Trials Title
Gary Russell added his name to family lore and the history books, completing a run through the challengers bracket to win the Olympic Trials.
Gary Russell added his name to family lore and the history books, completing a run through the challengerÂ’s bracket to win the light welterweight title at the US Boxing Olympic Trials on Sunday in Reno.
Russell, who became the third Trials champion in his family, lost to Jaron Ennis in a split decision on the opening day of the Trials last Monday. That knocked him into the challengers bracket and with no margin for error as a second loss would have meant elimination.
The Maryland native scored four straight victories before beating Ennis in a unanimous decision on Saturday night to force a winner-take-all bout for the title. In his seventh bout in as many days, Russell scored another unanimous decision to inch closer to the Games.
In the process, he joined Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather, and Gary Russell Jr. – Russell’s older brother – as the only fighters to have ever lost in the first round and come back through the challengers bracket to win the Olympic Trials.
In 2007, Gary Russell Jr. lost to Roberto Marroquin in the first round – his first loss to an American in eight years – before rebounding to win the bantamweight division.
“My brother and I talk every night, every second of every day,” Russell said. “That’s a unit: me, my brother, my father. We put our heads together to achieve these events and accomplish, conquer and execute. … You have to win back-to-back all the way up to the championship night, you can’t lose anymore. I laid it all on the line. The job isn’t done yet. I gotta keep pushing.”
Trials champions must now qualify internationally to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team for Rio Games. Each will have three international qualifying opportunities: a continental tournament in March in Buenos Aires, a tournament for AIBA Pro Boxing and World Series of Boxing athletes, and a last chance qualifier.
Day 7 Results
Russell, who became the third Trials champion in his family, lost to Jaron Ennis in a split decision on the opening day of the Trials last Monday. That knocked him into the challengers bracket and with no margin for error as a second loss would have meant elimination.
The Maryland native scored four straight victories before beating Ennis in a unanimous decision on Saturday night to force a winner-take-all bout for the title. In his seventh bout in as many days, Russell scored another unanimous decision to inch closer to the Games.
In the process, he joined Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather, and Gary Russell Jr. – Russell’s older brother – as the only fighters to have ever lost in the first round and come back through the challengers bracket to win the Olympic Trials.
In 2007, Gary Russell Jr. lost to Roberto Marroquin in the first round – his first loss to an American in eight years – before rebounding to win the bantamweight division.
“My brother and I talk every night, every second of every day,” Russell said. “That’s a unit: me, my brother, my father. We put our heads together to achieve these events and accomplish, conquer and execute. … You have to win back-to-back all the way up to the championship night, you can’t lose anymore. I laid it all on the line. The job isn’t done yet. I gotta keep pushing.”
Trials champions must now qualify internationally to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team for Rio Games. Each will have three international qualifying opportunities: a continental tournament in March in Buenos Aires, a tournament for AIBA Pro Boxing and World Series of Boxing athletes, and a last chance qualifier.
Day 7 Results
Light flyweight (108 lbs.)
- Nico Hernandez (Wichita, KS) dec. Leroy Davila (Princeton, NJ), 2-1?
Flyweight (114 lbs.)
- Antonio Vargas (Kissimmee, FL) dec. Brent Venegas (Sacramento, CA), 2-1?
Light Welterweight (141 lbs.)
- Gary Russell (Capitol Heights, MD) dec. Jaron Ennis (Philadelphia, PA), 3-0?
Welterweight (152 lbs.)
- Paul Kroll (Philadelphia, PA) dec. Ardreal Holmes (Flint, MI), 3-0
2016 Olympic Trials Champions
- Light flyweight (108 lbs.): Nico Hernandez, Wichita, KS
- Flyweight (114 lbs.): Antonio Vargas, Kissimmee, FL
- Bantamweight (123 lbs.): Shakur Stevenson, Newark, NJ
- Light Welterweight (141 lbs.): Gary Russell, Capitol Heights, MD
- Welterweight (152 lbs.): Paul Kroll, Philadelphia, PA
- Middleweight (165 lbs.): Charles Conwell, Cleveland Heights, OH
- Light heavyweight (178 lbs.): Jonathan Esquivel, Anaheim, CA
- Heavyweight (201 lbs.): Cam F. Awesome, Lenexa, KS
- Super heavyweight (201+ lbs.): Marlo Moore, Hayward, CA
Outstanding Boxer
- Bantamweight (123 lbs.): Shakur Stevenson, Newark, NJ