BOXING
Capitol Heights' Russell Qualifies for Olympics
Gary Russell Jr., right, is headed to the Olympics after defeating France's Ali Hallab in the round of 16. The two shared the world bronze medal in 2005.
(By Brian Kersey -- Associated Press)
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Bantamweight Gary Russell Jr. and featherweight Raynell Williams qualified for the Olympics with convincing victories and built on the U.S. team's momentum at the World Boxing Championships in Chicago yesterday.
Russell, of Capitol Heights, outpointed fellow 2005 world bronze medalist Ali Hallab of France, 22-14, in the round of 16, while Williams was leading 23-3 when his bout with Armenia's Azat Hovhannisyan was stopped in the third round.
No U.S. boxer has won a gold medal at the worlds since 1999, but the Americans are now 18-3 and in good position to end the drought.
Russell and Hallab both lost semifinal bouts in 2005 to get bronze, so they didn't have to face each other then.
Hallab tried to outbox the quicker Russell through the first two rounds. A right hand and a possible slip sent Hallab into the lower ropes in the opening round, and Russell led 8-3 after two. Hallab was the aggressor over the final two rounds, but Russell held his ground.
"He was getting desperate, trying to get points back," Russell said. "It made it a lot easier for me to counter. I'm glad it went all four because I had to get a sweat."
Russell's trunks started riding up on him during the third round, but that minor problem aside, there were few complications on a day when he realized one of his dreams. At 19, he's bound for the Olympics.
"It means a lot. After a while, I started realizing it's about me, but it really wasn't," Russell said.
Americans Javier Molina and Shawn Estrada will have to try again next year to qualify for Beijing.
Molina, a light welterweight, lost 24-12 to England's Bradley Saunders in the round of 16 while Estrada dropped a tiebreaker to Germany's Konstantin Buga in their middleweight bout.
Heavyweight Ihab Al Matbouli of Jordan was to spend the night at the hospital after collapsing in the ring with fatigue during his match against China's Nijiati Yushan. The referee ordered him to his corner, and the fighter fell backward.
-- From News Services
