USA vs. Belarus Boxing Dual
Results from North Miami January 29
By: Laz Izada

North Miami, FL (InsideBoxing.com-January 30, 2006) This past Sunday amateur boxing between the USA and Belarus took place at the North Miami Armory. Even though the USA team lost to Belarus 5 matches to 4, you had to be impressed with the action, and quality of Olympic amateur style boxing that took place. All the matches paired young fighters from both countries going toe to toe, giving it their all with their hearts and fists.

In the biggest win for team USA, 2005 U.S. Championships silver medalist Charles Hatley from Dallas Texas upset 2003 World Championships silver medalist Magomed Nurudinov from Belarus. The welterweight match up had Hatley closely losing the 1st two rounds. Things rapidly changed late in the 2nd round when Nurudinov elbowed Hatley in the left eye. This triggered Hatley to quit boxing and start going all out, brawling for the last 2 rounds, to pull the upset. Greg Hatley, Charles’ father and trainer, encouraged him to put it on, and to do it for his brother and other close relatives. Hatley wanted to dedicate the victory to Oak Cliff Boxing Club where he works out in Dallas.

18 year old flyweight Rau’ shee Warren from Cincinnati, Ohio, who was part of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team also looked impressive by defeating Bato-Munko VanKeyeu by disqualification at 1:36 of the 4th round. Lamont Jones, Executive Director of USA Boxing said that the team has a strong “nucleus” of fighters that will be looking for bling, bling (gold) in Bejing in 2008. Team USA and Belarus will match up again this coming Tuesday, January 31st in Baltimore. The U.S. Championships will take place March 4th-12th in Colorado Springs, CO.

Congratulations to the City of North Miami for hosting such an exciting and prestigious event, just a preview of things to come. Construction of an Olympic training center in North Miami should begin in 2007 with completion by 2009. The Olympic style facility will be a training and event site for Olympic boxing, judo, karate, wrestling, fencing, and tae kwon do. It will be used by the US and foreign Olympic teams, as well as the local community.

Insideboxing.com would like to thank the Burns brothers that contributed to this article and the overall success of the event. Joe Burns of Big Star Productions, Patrick Burns, 1996 U.S. Olympic boxing coach and head trainer, Mike Burns, USA corner man for the 1996 U.S. vs. Russia dual meet, and Mayor of North Miami Kevin Burns.

Hats off to USA Boxing:
Lamont Jones - Executive Director
Julie Goldsticker - Director of Media & P.R.

Keep in touch with all the USA Boxing action at www.usaboxing.org