Congratulations to Capitol Heights, MD's Shaborn Ryals who will be heading to the US Olympic Trials in Mobile, AL later this month.
Ryals, who is making his return to boxing this year, seemingly came out of nowhere to win this tournament in the 178-pound division. Ryals defeated 2009 national champion Robert Brant of Oakdale, MN in a tiebraker 23-23 (113-107 in total punches).
What makes this win so incredible was where the 18-year-old Ryals was less than six years ago. In December of 2005, Ryals was the subject of a feature article in the Washington Post Magazine. The Michael Leahy article chronicled Ryals and how boxing kept him safe but the lures of the street were still there. I'm posting the link to remind some of this situation. It may help you understand why this win is so remarkable.
"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/30/AR2005113001705.html">
The two other remaining Beltway amateurs lost their bids for the Olympic Trials. In the 132-pound division, Kevin Rivers, Jr. of Landover, MD lost by disqualification in the third round to 2008 Olympian Raynell Williams of Cleveland, OH. Laurel, MD's Demond Nicholson lost in the 165-pound semifinal to Kenton Sippio-Cook of Round Rock, TX by a 46-32 decision.
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