THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 8, 1996 TAG: 9604080148
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: OAKLAND, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
David Reid is looking forward to a medal ceremony where he won't have to duck.
``At least the crowd won't holler at me in Atlanta like they did in Argentina,'' Reid said, recalling how the crowd booed and threw things when he got his boxing gold medal last year at the Pan American Games.
First, of course, the 22-year-old Philadelphian has to make the U.S. Olympic team. Reid took a big step in that direction when he won the 156-pound title Saturday at the Olympic boxing trials.
Now Reid and the 11 other trials champions each need one more victory at the box-offs April 18-20 in Augusta, Ga., to make the Olympic team.
The trials champions must box the winners in the losers' bracket from the Las Vegas tournament. Should a trials champion lose to a challenger, they will box again, with the winner going to Atlanta.
Two Hampton Roads boxers fought their way into the box-offs on Sunday.
Steve Carter, a Navy boxer based in Norfolk, will face Zahir Raheem of Philadelphia, who defeated him 22-5 on Friday at 119 pounds. He reached the box-offs with a 13-11 decision over Baldito Ramirez of Denver.
And Ronald Simms, an Air Force boxer based at Langley, will take on Rhoshii Wells of Riverdale, Ga., at 165. Wells outpointed Simms 6-2 on Friday. Simms on Sunday outpoined Benjamin McDowell of Fort Bragg, N.C.
In the past three Olympics, seven boxers beaten in the trials made the team through two wins in the box-offs. Montell Griffin (178) did it in 1992. Kelcie Banks (125); Andrew Maynard, the 178-pound gold medalist, and Riddick Bowe, the super heavyweight super medalist, did it in 1988. It also was accomplished by gold medalists Meldrick Taylor (125) and Jerry Page (139), and bronze medalist Evander Holyfield (178) in 1984.
Reid put on a power-punching display in winning the trials title on an 18-13 decision over Jeffrey Clark of the Army at Fort Bragg, N.C.
While Reid blasted his way to Augusta, Antonio Tarver of Orlando walked into the box-offs.
The 27-year-old Tarver, also a world champion at 178 pounds, won his final on a walkover when Glenn Robinson of New York failed to appear for the bout at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center. Robinson, who was at the morning weigh-in, said he thought the bout was at night. Robinson was disqualified from the tournament. Anthony Stewart of Chicago thereby won the loser's bracket and the right to fight Tarver.
``I was looking forward to (meeting Robinson),'' Tarver said. ``It would have been a good fight.''
But, Tarver was not unhappy about Robinson's absence. ``We're trying to make it to the Olympics,'' he said. ``We hope the rest of the world doesn't show up.''
Whatever happens in the box-offs, the 1996 Olympic team will be much less experienced in international competition than any team since the 1972 squad at Munich.
Lack of money has limited the number of international competitions USA Boxing can send competitors to. The organization has no funds-providing television contract.
Tarver and Reid have the most international experience among the 12 trials champions. Tarver is 9-3 against international opposition while Reid is 6-4. by CNB