(JAN 14) (COLORADO SPRINGS,
COLO.) – Nearly 300 boxers with Olympic dreams are traveling to
Spokane, Wash., for the 2015 USA Boxing National Championships,
January 19-24. The deep list of pugilists includes three
Olympians and four reigning or former World Champions all hoping
to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games. The Pathway to the Podium
will once again run through Spokane with the 2015 edition of USA
Boxing’s key national championship event serving as an Olympic
Trials qualifier for the 10 men’s weight divisions and three
women’s Olympic weight classes.
With such high stakes, the athlete entry numbers have increased
significantly from last year and the talent level of the boxers
matches the quantity of the tournament participants. 2012
Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields (Flint, Mich.) once again
headlines the list of competitors and she enters the 2015 event
fresh off her first elite world title win in Korea. Fellow
Olympic medalist Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) won her first
world championship in November as well and she will be competing
for her ninth USA Boxing title in Spokane.
2012 Olympian Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.) will return to
her home state for the fourth straight year to vie for her
eighth USA Boxing national championship while 2012 World
Champion and 2014 World Championships bronze medalist Tiara
Brown (Fort Myers, Fla.) looks to defend her featherweight
title.
In men’s action, multiple reigning national champions will
compete for another USA Boxing national title alongside their
younger counterparts making their elite division debuts in
Spokane. Two-time national champions Jose Alday (Odessa, Texas)
and LeShawn Rodriquez (Shirley, N.Y.) will chase the three-peat
in 2015 while lightweight Genaro Gamez (San Diego, Calif.) and
light welterweight Abraham Nova (Albany, N.Y.) will each look to
defend their 2014 titles in Spokane. 2014 Youth World Champion
and Youth Olympic Games silver medalist Darmani Rock
(Philadelphia, Pa.) will make the move to the elite division
next week with 2013 youth national champions Antonio Vargas
(Kissimmee, Fla.), Gilbert Renteria (Houston, Texas) and John
Luna (Milwaukee, Wis.) all making the transition to the older
age division as well.
USA Boxing’s elite women continue to enjoy success
internationally and with the top two tournament finishers in the
three women’s Olympic weight divisions earning Olympic Trials
berths, the flyweight (112 lbs), lightweight (132 lbs) and
middleweight (165 lbs) divisions are all very deep in talent.
The always-competitive lightweight division will once again
feature multiple decorated athletes, including 2012 World
Championships bronze medalist and 2012 national champion Mikaela
Mayer (Los Angeles, Calif.). She will make another run at the
USA Boxing National Championships gold as will 2013 Youth
National champion Rashida Ellis (Lynn, Mass.). 2012 U.S. Olympic
Team Trials participant N’tyeeyah Sherman (Barberton, Ohio) will
also grace the ring at Spokane in the first Olympic Trials
qualifier.
The flyweight division is packed as well with multiple athletes
gunning for the top spot in the country. Two-time USA Boxing
National Championship silver medalist Virginia Fuchs (Kemah,
Texas) is hoping that the third time is the charm for her in
2015 action. While Fuchs is returning to familiar territory, two
former national champions will compete for another national
title in a new weight division. Two-time light flyweight titlist
Alex Love (Fort Carson, Colo.) will return to the Olympic
flyweight division for the 2015 event and her U.S. Army World
Class Athlete Program teammate Melissa Parker (Fort Carson,
Colo.) is moving down to the 112 pound weight class for a run at
Rio. 2013 Youth National Champion Marisol Lopez (Stratford,
Calif.) will vie for her first elite division title in Spokane
as well.
The women’s middleweight division will also feature a slew of
top competitors vying for the gold medal. Two U.S. Olympic Team
Trials participants and USA Boxing national champions will
challenge the reigning Olympic champion for the middleweight
crown. 2012 National Champion and World Championships silver
medalist Raquel Miller (San Francisco, Calif.) and former
titlist Tika Hemingway (Breckinridge, Pa.) are each returning to
the middleweight division for the 2015 tournament.
The 2015 USA Boxing National Championships participants will
begin arriving in Spokane on Saturday prior to Sunday’s general
weigh-in and tournament draw. Preliminary competition will begin
on Monday and run through Thursday in two sessions daily at 11
a.m. and 5 p.m. at the HUB Sports Center. Tournament action will
shift to the Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s Pend Oreille
Pavilion for semifinal competition on Friday at 11 a.m. and 5
p.m. Saturday will feature two sessions of final round
competition at noon and 6 p.m. Preliminary round tickets run
only $10 and can be purchased at the HUB Sports Center.
All-session passes and tickets for the semifinals and
championship bouts are available online at northernquest.com.
The full list of registered athletes can be found below.
ELITE MEN
LIGHT FLYWEIGHT/108 LBS
Justin Dwight Dampac, Lynnwood, Wash.
Melik Elliston, Denver, Colo. (2015 USA Boxing National
Championships bronze medalist)
Eric Gordon, Philadelphia, Pa.
Pablo Ramirez, Weslaco, Texas
Christian Carto, Deptford, N.J.
FLYWEIGHT/114 LBS
Luis Delgado, San Antonio, Texas
Adrian Ghisoiu, Junction City, Kansas
Thomas Huitt-Johnson, Saint Joseph, Mo.
Darrien Immel, Pueblo, Colo.
Gilbert Renteria, Houston, Texas (2013 Youth National Champion
and 2012 Olympic Training Partner)
Isaac Rodriguez, San Antonio, Texas
Johnadier Santiago, Nashua, N.H.
Abel Soriano, Bellevue, Nebraska
Khalid Twaiti, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Antonio Vargas, Kissimmee, Fla. (2013 Youth Champion and 2014
Golden Gloves Champion)
BANTAMWEIGHT/123 LBS
Jesse Acosta, Tucson, Ariz.
Michael Angeletti, Spring, Texas
Daniel Bailey, Miami, Fla.
Javon Campbell, Powder Springs, Ga.
Anthony Chavez, San Bernardino, Calif.
Christopher Colbert, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Eric Estrada, Hillsboro, Ore.
Raul Estrada, Aloha, Oregon
Abraham Flores, Silvis, Ill.
Jose Gallegos, San Pedro, Calif.
Rudy Garcia, Los Angeles, Calif.
Frank Gonzalez, Hialeah, Fla.
Irvin Gonzalez, Worcester, Mass.
Xavier Griffin, Minneapolis, Minn.
Anteneh Kidanwold, St. Paul, Minn.
Efren Lopez, Fresno, Calif. (2014 National PAL Youth Champion)
Mikhail Montgomery, Macon, Ga.
Javier Oquendo, Philadelphia, Pa.
Yousif Saleh, Chicago, Ill.
Jose Santana, Tampa, Fla.
Luis Santiago, Nashua, N.H.
Sean Scott, Cincinnati, Ohio
Michael Stoute, Coram, N.Y.
Angelo Valencia, Albuquerque, N.M.
Nichatxu Vang, Minneapolis, Minn.
Eduardo Vasquez, Sheridan, Colo.
Cristian Williams, Chicago, Ill.
LIGHTWEIGHT/132 LBS
Jesus Arevalo, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Jerrell Barbour, Tacoma, Wash.
Lorenzo Caldera, Portland, Ore.
Demarco Carter, Madison, Wis.
Gabriel Chacon, Hollywood, Fla.
Treven Coleman-Avant, Omaha, Neb.
Mariael Crumby, Compton, Calif.
Kelvin Davis, Norfolk, Va.
Herkin De La Rosa, Union City, N.J.
Nino Delgado, Anchorage, Alaska
Francisco Esparza, Las Vegas, Nev.
Jude Franklin, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Genaro Gamez, San Diego, Calif. (2014 USA Boxing National
Champion
Jesse Garcia, Kingwood, Texas
Jose Gonzalez, New York, N.Y.
Jousce Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif. (2014 USA Boxing National
Championships silver medalist)
Christopher Gooch, Ashburn, Va.
Rajiv Hernandez, Cleveland, Ohio
Giezwa Hobbs Jr., Burnsville, Minn.
Nasir Jones, Philadelphia, Pa.
Rosino Legan, Gilroy, Calif.
Israel Medina, Youngsville, La.
Abel Mendoza, El Paso, Texas
Roberto Meza, Escondido, Calif.
Maliek Montgomery, Macon, Ga. (2014 Golden Gloves Champion)
Rock Myrthil, Las Vegas, Nev.
Jamaine Ortiz-Rodriguez, Worcester, Mass.
Rodrigo Rubio, Waterloo, Iowa
Hector Tanajara, San Antonio, Texas (2014 National PAL Youth
Champion)
Brannon Terry, Little Rock, Ark.
Jesus Vasquez, Englewood, Colo.
Charles Vazquez Vera, New Port Richey, Fla.
Thomas Walters, Cypress, Calif.
Titus Williams, Elmont, N.Y.
LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT/141 LBS
Christian Bermudez, Bronx, N.Y.
Terell Bostic, Wyandanch, N.Y.
Christian Camarena, Pasadena, Calif.
Chandler Clements, Cleveland, Ohio
David Craddock, Columbus, Ohio
Reynaldo Fajardo, Houston, texas
Luis Feliciano, Milwaukee, Wis. (2012 Olympic Trials
participant)
Joshua Freeland, Humble, Texas
Eduardo Garcia, Houston, Texas
Rahim Gonzales, Sylmar, Calif.
Christopher Gonzalez, Tucson, Ariz.
Jabari Gregory, Charlotte, N.C.
Eric Hernandez, Leesburg, Va.
Michael Hughes, New York, N.Y.
Joe James, Eden Valley, Minn.
Evander Lamourt, New Port Richey, Fla.
Abraham Lopez, Rowland Heights, Calif.
Hector Madera, Stockton, Calif.
Arturo Marquez, Houston, Texas
Anthony Marsella, Smithfield, R.I.
Abram Martinez, Greeley, Colo.
Wilner Mendez-Lopez, Queens, N.Y.
David Mijares, Pasadena, Calif.
Jonathan Navarro, Los Angeles, Calif.
Douglas Northern, Philadelphia, Pa.
Abraham Nova, Albany, N.Y. (2014 USA Boxing National Champion)
Tra-Kwon Pettis, Atlanta, Ga.
Lorenzo Rosales, Milwaukee, Wis.
David Sample Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.
Kevin Serrano, Philadelphia, Pa.
Boubacar Sylla, Cincinnati, Ohio
Martin Urias, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Gilbert Vasquez, Brownfield, Texas
Deonte Wilson, Madison, Wis.
WELTERWEIGHT/152 LBS
Matthew Abregu, Leesburg, Va.
Jose Alday, Odessa, Texas (Two-time USA Boxing National
Champion)
Fabian Alvarado, Irving, Texas
Gabriel Ayala, Mercedes, Texas
Burim Beriqi, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Keon Burroughs, Mobile, Ala.
Jonathan Burrs, Frederick, Md.
Alemeo Carter, Kansas City, Mo.
Idemar Cordero, Philadelphia, Pa.
Jamaal Gregory, Charlotte, N.C.
Adrian Gutierrez, Chula Vista, Calif.
Jayquran Hazel, Newark, N.J.
Gabriel Hernandez, El Cajon, Calif.
Ardreal Holmes, Flint, Mich.
Kieron Hooks, Philadelphia, Pa.
Javaune James, Miramar, Fla.
Tyrone James, Bronx, N.Y.
Jordan Jones, Rowlett, Texas
Andy Kanene, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Paul Kroll, Philadelphia, Pa.
Michael Lee, Jersey City, N.J.
Damien Lopez, Newhall, Calif.
Chaz Mince, Lacombe, La.
Carlos Monroe, Snellville, Ga.
Michael Montgomery, Macon, Ga.
Jacob Operskalski, Oakland, Calif.
Veshawn Owens, St. Louis Park, Minn.
Ivan Pandzic, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Zaquan Peterkin, Las Vegas, Nev.
Quinton Randall, Katy, Texas
Andrick Robinson, Sacramento, Calif.
Anthony Rodriguez, Humble, Texas
Art Saakyan, Montebello, Calif.
William Santiago, La Grange, Ky.
Michael Stegall, House Springs, MO.
Kenneth Thomas, Indianapolis, Ind.
Devlin Thompson, Omaha, Neb.
Kevin Torres, Bellingham, Wash.
Vardges Vardanyan, Panorama City, Calif.
Nikolas Vasquez, Seattle, Wash.
Diego Vermilye, Denver, Colo.
Robert Wallace, Jacksonville, Fla.
John Williams, Baton Rouge, La.
Trent Wilson, Denmark, Tenn.
Gregory Young, Hoover, Ala.
MIDDLEWEIGHT/165 LBS
Mark Joseph Antalan, Los Angeles, Calif.
Mentor Balidemaj, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Oleksiy Barker, Fullerton, Calif.
Lorenzo Boatman, Conway, Ark.
Chordelle Booker, Brooklyn, N.Y. (2014 USA Boxing National
Championships silver medalist)
Jonathan Esquivel, Anaheim, Calif.
Randy Foster, Covington, Ga.
Emmanuel Guajardo, Tucson, Ariz.
Kalvin Henderson, Fayetteville, Ark.
Dillon Kasprzak, Philadelphia, Pa.
Lawrence King, Adelanto, Calif.
Matthew Kligerman, Rye, N.Y.
Raul Marquez, Houston, Texas
Eric Moon, Mobile, Ala.
Antonio Munoz, Chico, Calif.
Kuanysh Niyazov, Staten Island, N.Y.
Christopher Ousley, Middleton, Wis.
Leshawn Rodriquez, Medford, N.Y. (Two-time USA Boxing National
Champion)
Ezekiel Scruggs, Little Rock, Ark.
Gerald Sherrell, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Christopher Thompson, Flint, Mich.
Leonel Urias, Dallas, Texas
Antonio Woods, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT/178 LBS
Vincent Baccus, Okmulgee, Okla.
Joshua Balbuena, Smyrna, Ga.
Chase Calloway, Saint Joseph, Mo.
Aaron Casper, Savannah, Ga.
Kevin Green, New Orleans, La.
Xavier Hayden, Minneapolis, Minn.
Maurice Horne, Middletown, Del.
Deantwon Jackson, Canal Winchester, Ohio
Marcell Jackson, Chicago, Ill.
Lesly Jean, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Duane Johnson, Bellevue, Neb.
Jasper McCargo, Oakland, Calif. (2014 USA Boxing National
Championships silver medalist)
Joseph Merrill, Jacksonville, Fla.
Edward Ortiz, San Antonio, Texas
Adam Paolino, Warwick, R.I.
Julio Perez Campusano, Roxbury, Mass.
Ronnie Pratt, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Niko Valdes, Miami, Fla. (2014 USA Boxing National Championships
bronze medalist)
Tory Williams, Mandeville, La.
Smbat Bagdassarian, Burbank, Calif.
HEAVYWEIGHT/201 LBS
Alejandro Bermudez, Gatesville, Texas
Oscar Bruce, Freeport, N.Y.
Manuel Contreras, St Paul, Minn.
Alvin Davie, Bal Harbour, Fla.
Benjamin Dobbs, Virginia Beach, Va.
Patrick Ferguson, Spokane, Wash.
Tristan James, Des Moines, Iowa
Vardan Khachatrian, Los Angeles, Calif.
Daniel Mejia, Hesperia, Calif.
Kato Montgomery, Garfield Heights, Ohio
Sardius Simmons, Flint, Mich. (2014 USA Boxing National
Championships silver medalist)
Adrian Taylor, Mesquite, Texas (WSB and World Championships Team
Trial silver medalist)
Ryan Watson, Duluth, Minn.
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT/201+ LBS
Ignacio Camacho, Paterson, N.J.
Ramel Clasablanca, Bremerton, Wash.
Lorenzo Deloney, Little Rock, Ark.
Elvis Garcia, Tacoma, Wash.
Brandon Glanton, Ellenwood, Ga.
Leonid Grachev, Boulder, Colo.
Alante Green, Garfield, Ohio
Tyrrell Herndon, San Antonio, Texas
John Luna, Milwaukee, Wis. (2013 Youth National Champion)
Owen Minor, Worcester, Mass.
Marlo Moore, Hayward, Calif.
Darmani Rock, Philadelphia, Pa. (2014 Youth Champion and Youth
Olympic Games silver medalist)
Kurtis Taylor, Las Vegas, Nev.
Edward Barr, Fresno, Calif.
ELITE WOMEN
LIGHT FLYWEIGHT/106 LBS
Jennifer Amato, Keene, N.H.
Sarah Dawson, Spring, Texas
Brittany Delgado, Center Moriches, N.Y.
Maureeca Lambert, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Jennifer Morales, Houston, Texas
Felicia O’Brien, Sudbury, Mass.
Arlene Villalobos, Whittier, Calif.
FLYWEIGHT/112 LBS
Ivette Delgado, Yonkers, N.Y.
Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas (Eight-time National Champion and
2014 World Champion)
Virginia Fuchs, Kemah, Texas (Two-time USA Boxing National
Championships silver medalist)
Dacia Jacquez, Bloomfield, N.M.
Traci Konas, Simi Valley, Calif.
Marisol Lopez, Stratford, Calif. (2013 Youth World Championships
bronze medalist)
Alexandra Love, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Two-time USA Boxing
light flyweight national champion)
Melissa Parker, Fort Carson, Colo. (Former USA Boxing
featherweight national champion)
Amanda Pavone, Burlington, Mass.
Rianna Rios, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Karina Sarabia, El Monte, Calif.
Maryguenn Vellinga, Heber City, Utah
BANTAMWEIGHT/119 LBS
Jennifer Chieng, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Melanie Costa, Norton, Mass.
Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y. (Four-time USA Boxing National
Champion)
Jacquelyn Cuddeback, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Leesa Daniel, Austin, Texas
Kathy McPherson, Mesa, Ariz. (2014 USA Boxing National
Championships bronze medalist)
Shurretta Metcalf, Dallas, Texas
Jamie Mitchell, Pacific Grove, Calif.
FEATHERWEIGHT/125 LBS
Tiara Brown, Hyattsville, Fort Myers, Fla. (2012 World Champion
& 2014 World Championships bronze medalist)
Kristin Carlson, Chicago, Ill.
Nataly Chavez, Splendora, Texas
Felisha Estrada Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Ashleigh Moore, Buzzards Bay, Mass.
Indeya Smith, Grand Prairie, Texas
LIGHTWEIGHT/132 LBS
Alycia Baumgardner, Clyde, Ohio
Caroline Carnero, Passaic, N.J.
Aleah Dillard, Dallas, Texas
Rashida Ellis, Lynn, Mass. (2014 USA Boxing National
Championships bronze medalist)
Nakarri Jones, Tampa, Fla.
Stalacia Leggett, San Diego, Calif.
Chasity Martin, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Mikaela Mayer, Los Angeles, Calif. (2012 National Champion &
World Championships bronze medalist)
Monayah Patterson, Warren, Mich.
Temitope Pedro, San Francisco, Calif.
Lisa Porter, Van Nuys, Calif.
Kim Putzier, St. Cloud, Minn.
Rory Santos, Jber, Alaska
N'Yteeyah Sherman, Barberton, Ohio (2012 Olympic Trials
participant)
Queen Underwood, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Seven-time national
champion and 2012 Olympian)
Carmen Vargas, Houston, Texas
Mioshia Wagoner, Lawrence, Kansas
Alexandria Williams, Elmont, N.Y.
LIGHT WELERWEIGHT/141 LBS
Katherine Bouldin, Live Oak, Texas
Catarina Lentini, Bethlehem, Pa.
Nisa Rodriguez, Bronx, N.Y.
Lilian Santander, Mesa, Ariz.
Jasmine Singh, Anaheim, Calif.
WELTERWEIGHT/152 LBS
Melissa Kelly, Everett, Mass.
Samantha Kinchen, Lexington, Ky. (2013 Youth National Champion)
Stacey Parker, Aurora, Ill.
Danyelle Wolf, San Diego, Calif. (Two-time USA Boxing National
Champion)
MIDDLEWEIGHT/165 LBS
Abigail Castro, Kapolei, Hawaii
Naomi Clark, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jillian Erstad, Spokane, Wash.
Chatiqua Hemingway, Brackenridge, Pa. (Former national champion
and 2012 Olympic Trials participant)
Raquel Miller, San Francisco, Calif. (2012 National Champion and
World Championships silver medalist)
Joy Rotstein, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Claressa Shields, Flint, Mich. (2012 Olympic Gold Medalist and
2014 World Champion)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT/178 LBS
Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md. (Five-time USA Boxing national
champion)
Heidi Henriksen, St Louis Park, Minn. (2014 USA Boxing National
Championships silver medalist)
HEAVYWEIGHT/178+ LBS
Krystal Dixon, New Rochelle, N.Y. (2014 USA Boxing National
Champion)
Shadasia Green, Paterson, N.J.