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(MAR 18)
Augusta,
Georgia
to host still another National Boxing Event. Tom Moraetes, the Augusta
Boxing Club along with the City of Augusta and the Augusta Recreation
Department have combined efforts to host the 2003 Ringside Augusta Women’s
Open and Boys Junior National Summer Boxing Classic. With support from
the largest supplier in boxing equipment in the world, Ringside Inc. and
the additional sponsorship from COMCAST, PCS Nitrogen, Sports Medicine
Assoc. of Augusta, Pollock Company, Georgia Chiropractic and Wellness
Center and the Partridge Inn, the Augusta Boxing Club will see hundreds of
young boxers from all across the country participating in this tournament.
Tom Moraetes tells us “This tournament was designed for several reasons.
The first being the opportunity for young athletes to show their skills in
a sport that is sometimes misunderstood. The second being the opportunity
to show off the great city of Augusta to hundreds of athletes, coaches and
officials that may never have had a reason to come to the city of
Augusta.” Tom Beck, Director of the Augusta Recreation Department, sees
this as “still another huge boost to the economic impact to the city
through sport”. John Brown, Owner and Chief Executive of Ringside
Inc. says “ The City of Augusta can take there hats off to individuals
like Tom Moraetes and Tom Beck who have given their lives to sport and the
youth of their community. Both have brought tens of thousands of
individual visitors to their city and this tournament demonstrates their
further commitment to the city of Augusta and the sport of amateur
boxing.” The Tournament will take place June 18 – 21 at the May Park
Community Center 622, 4th street. The tournament is open to
boys age’s 11 through 16 and women between the ages of 17 and 34.
Competition will take place at
6:00 pm each day and tickets will be available at the door.
For more information contact the Augusta Boxing Club at 733-7533.
The athletes are aware of this scheduling and are working hard to be ready
to win their versions of the gold. WBAN is making the rounds of some of
the gyms in Milwaukee to see what is going on. First stop was Duke Roufus
Gym where four women were working out; all relative newcomers to the sport
but looking forward to their first contests in the ring. For the women in
training at the Roufus gym they had only to look on the wall of the
facility to see a large poster advertising the Rumble in the Rave for
March 22 and be inspired. At least four women’s bouts are advertised and
Roufus said he expected there would be more but didn’t want to overstate
something he wasn’t completely certain about.
Prominently featured on the poster is Naquana Smalls who will appear to
face an opponent yet to be named. Smalls is not only top ranked
lightweight woman in the United States but also is WBAN’s March Fighter of
the Month. She boxes out of Willy Price’s Peshtigo Boxing Club.
Among the media sponsors logos showing on the poster is that of WBAN. Hard
at work training at the Roufus gym this week were Erin Riley, 18, 138;
Rebecca Mahin, 29, 132; Erika Rademacher, 21, 138, and a fourth woman who
declined to be interviewed because she is leaving in a couple of weeks for
enlistment in the air force. She will not be competing in the Rumble at
the Rave on March 22. None of the other three has had a competitive bout
but all are eagerly waiting for their first experience in the ring.
Roufus makes as many matches as he can in advance so each boxer knows she
has an opponent before she heads for the arena. Matches for this second
amateur Rumble at the Rave are to begin at 7 P.M. with doors to
open about 6 P.M. Tickets are all reserved seating and consist of VIP
ringside at $30, ringside $20 and balcony $10. The Rave is at 2401 W.
Wisconsin Ave. Tickets may be obtained by calling 414-967-7767 and Master
Card and Visa credit cards are acceptable.
(Inset in top photo:
Erin Riley removes her
headgear after a rough sparring session with her teammate Rebecca Mahin.
Riley and Mahin are hoping to get matches at an amateur show the Duke
Roufus Gym is putting on March 22 in Milwaukee. If successful it will be
the first matches for either boxer although their age and weight
difference make it unlikely either will face the other in a real bout.) |
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