(JAN 31) This Tournament will be
expanded to include all open class women. In an effort to give our
female boxers additional competition opportunities, all open-class
females are invited to participate. This is not an advancing
tournament for the females therefore it is a great opportunity to
expand the tournament.
The nation's top 17 and
18-year-old male and female boxers will compete for a national
title at the 2010 Under 19 National Championships, February 9-12
in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event consistently showcases future
Olympians and world champions early in their careers and the
2010 event will be no exception. In addition, the winners in the
men's division will earn a berth on the 2010 Youth World
Championship Team.
All of the competition will take place at the Hyatt Regency in
Cincinnati with preliminary action beginning on Tuesday,
February 9 and running through Wednesday, February 10. Semifinal
action will be contested on Thursday, February 11 and the event
will conclude with final round competition on Friday, February
12.
The Under 19 National Championships is a critical tournament in
the development process of future Olympians and professional
world champions. The event, which has taken place since 1983,
has featured many of the greats of the sport early in their
budding careers. Since its inception, 18 Under 19 National
Champions have gone on to represent the United States in the
Olympic Games. Three of the 18 Olympians, Meldrick Taylor, David
Reid and Andre Ward went on to claim gold medals at the
Olympics, two claimed silver medals and four won bronze,
including Cincinnati's own Tim Austin.
In addition to the 18 Under 19 National Champions that moved on
to Olympic glory, several Under 19 National Champions went on to
make their mark on the professional boxing world. Former
heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was a two-time Under 19 National
Champion during his formative amateur days and former light
middleweight champion Fernando Vargas won an Under 19 title
during his storied amateur career as well.
Four reigning professional world champions, WBO light
welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, IBO light heavyweight
champion Chad Dawson, WBC light welterweight champion Devon
Alexander and Ohio's own middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. In
addition, reigning WBC welterweight world champion Andre Berto
competed in the 2002 Under 19 National Championships.
Cincinnati boasts its own impressive amateur boxing heritage
with the Queen City placing seven boxers on the U.S. Olympic
teams since 1992. Cincinnati's success continues into the Under
19 National Championships with the city owning six titles.
Cincinnati natives Timothy Austin and Ron Siler both claimed
Under 19 titles en route to a berth on the Olympic Team while
Keith Kemp claimed two Under 19 crowns and Gerald Tucker and
William Jackson both won gold at the event as well.
For More Information go to the USA Boxing website:
http://usaboxing.org
