Monday, December 07, 2015

Irby, Russell, Moore Prepare For Olympic Trials!

Three noted Beltway amateurs begin their quest today to earn spots on the 2016 United States Men's Olympic Boxing team.  The Olympic Trials begin today in Reno, NV.

All three locals will compete in the evening session which begins about 10 PM ET (7 PM PT).  Oxon Hill, MD's Tyrek Irby will battle Richardson Hitchins of Brooklyn, NY in a 141-pound contest.  Gary Antuanne Russell of Capitol Heights, MD will be in another 141-pound bout against Jaron Ennis of Philadelphia, PA.  These two have met before -- Russell defeated Ennis in the finals of the 2014 National Golden Gloves.

Both young men also come from boxing families.  Antuanne Russell is the third member of his family to participate in the Olympic trials and he is trying to become the first Beltway Boxer to make the US Olympic team since his brother, Gary, Jr. who made the US team in 2008 and is currently the WBC Featherweight champion.  Ennis's older brothers, Derek and Farah, both fought professionally.

If Irby and Russell win their first-round contests, they would meet each other in the second round.

In the 165-pound division, Marquis Moore, a native of Fort Washington, MD who now boxes out of Colorado Springs, CO, will take on Christopher Ousley of Middletown, WI.

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