THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503010213
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
PORTSMOUTH'S THREE State Amateur boxing champions stepped up to regional competition in Atlantic City this week, seeking a shot at the National Amateur championship next month.
The winners in the Region 4 competition will qualify for the Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colo. April 3-8.
Virginia's 11 regional contestants include Portsmouth's Norman Johnson, Germain Green and Al Lassiter, all winners of State Amateur crowns in the recent bouts at Little Creek.
Johnson won the bantamweight title with a knockout victory over Johnny Davis of Norfolk in just 32 seconds of the first round. Johnson, a sophomore at Wilson High School, upped his record to 8-0. Each win was by knockout, including a KO of an All-Navy champion three weeks ago in Virginia Beach.
Green, a former track star at Wilson, captured the state welterweight title with a decision over the Navy's Tyrone Johnson in the finale. It avenged the only blemish on Green's record (8-1). Johnson had won a close decision in their first meeting.
Lassiter, now 9-1, claimed the super heavyweight championship in a long-awaited showdown with four-time state super heavyweight titlist James Johnson of Williamsburg. Lassiter scored a TKO victory in two minutes of the second round.
A year ago, Lassiter, a 291-pounder, was the novice state super heavyweight winner and picked as the most outstanding novice fighter in the tournament.
This year, Lassiter was chosen as the outstanding open fighter.
``We'll be giving away a lot of experience to the other fighters,'' said coach Doug Beavers of the Portsmouth Athletic Club. ``But we're taking three very good fighters to the region.
``I've seen a lot of bantamweights, and I've never seen but one - Reggie Brown - who can hit as hard as Johnson.
``Our fighters are very dedicated and hard workers and I know they will do well.''
The PAC fighters departed Thursday for the region competition. by CNB