Thirty-Six Elite Boxers Advance to Final Round Action by Julie Goldsticker June 24, 2011 (COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – 2011 USA Boxing Championships competition rolled into the semifinal round on Thursday with one session at the Colorado Springs Christian School. All of the competitors in 13 Olympic weight classes already had a weight lifted off their shoulders, having earned berths in the U.S. Olympic Trials but that didn’t deter them from chasing a national title. After three days of upsets, seven reigning national champions made a return trip to championship night. Light flyweight Louie Byrd (Denver, Colo.) is now one win away from his fourth straight national championship. Following a tiebreaker victory in Wednesday’s quarterfinal action, Byrd enjoyed a slightly easier day in Thursday’s semifinals. He took a 17-11 decision to move on to a championship bout with David Carlton (Cincinnati, Ohio) on Saturday night. Female flyweight national champion Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) will compete for her sixth straight title on Saturday night following her victory over Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.) in their semifinal bout. Esparza avenged her loss from their March battle with a 9-3 victory over Cruz in the third battle between the two. Esparza will take on Tyrieshia Douglas (Baltimore, Md.) on Saturday night in a rematch of the 2010 National Championships finale. Two straight national champions earned final round bouts in the men’s bantamweight and lightweight divisions. 2010.