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kenyan_cheena · 07-28-2006, 11:59 PM

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH:
IBL TRIALS UNVEIL TREASURE TROVE
OF WEST COAST BOXING TALENT

Friday 10 May 2002

A quartet of classy Middleweights, a flashy Welterweight and a talented, previously unknown of Light-Heavyweight from Arizona are numbered amongst the most impressive of what has been a plethora of boxing talent on show during the past five days at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Yes, the first week of selection trials for the International Boxing League's World Championship tournament regional qualifiers have almost come to a close, and it would be true to say that the league and it's officials have been overwhelmed by the quantity of skilled boxers that have discovered in Los Angeles.

"Simply unbelieveable," said IBL Chief Director Douglas Moran. "Of course, we knew that this particular trial would be hugely popular. But we have honestly underestimated the level of boxing talent that this region possesses. Just in the Middleweight division alone, there's four fellas who are seriously of World Championship calibre. It's mindblowing."

Those "four fellas" are 20 year-old local James Toney, 19 year-old Texas-born Terry Norris (who lives in Campo), 21 year-old San Franciscan Freddie Apostoli and a 22 year-old from Fresno named Bert Lytell. To say that the rivalry between the four of them during these past five days has been intense would be a gross understatement. Each of them has done everything they can to impress during some seriously heated amateur style bouts, while Norris and Toney, the more extroverted of the quartet, have engaged in some major league trash talking.

"I just don't know what's gonna happen when they actually get in the ring with each other for real," said Moran. "The pride and desire and determination to be the best is just palpable. They have just been literally working their asses off."

18 year-old Jack Thompson is one of a number of Los Angeles natives (in addition to Toney) that have caught the eye of IBL scouts. Having only boxed in a handful of amateur bouts during the past year, the 5'8" Welterweight impressed with his quick hands and feet, proving an evasive opponent. He is blessed with excellent defensive skills and the enthusiasm was evident when Moran spoke about him.

"That kid is like grease lightning," Moran said, laughing. "Most of those guys he was in against barely laid a hand on him. He's just full of pep and he's also got some good power in those fists of his."

Without a doubt, though, the most fascinating and, apparently, most talented of all the fighters the IBL has seen this week is an 18 year-old Los Angeles-born, Prescott, Arizona resident who goes by the name of John Henry Lewis. If the modest young man is to be believed, he's never boxed seriously in his life prior to this week. But just a look at the notes taken on him by IBL scouts during the sessions of the past few days paint a picture of an individual with talent to burn:

* Speed of a Welterweight
* Great aggression
* Power in both hands
* Excellent defence
* This kid has never boxed before???

"It's just intriguing, because no one had heard of him before this week," Moran said. "But he's real, has tremendous talent and he's a perfect gentleman."

Another Light-Heavyweight that will surely be included in the league's regional qualifiers is the accomplished amateur from San Jose, Eddie Booker. Like Middleweight slugger James Toney, Booker was unsuccessful in his attempt to find a position on the 2000 Olympic team, losing to eventual Silver medallist Bob Foster in the selection final. But he has shown during the past five days that he's still as determined to make a mark in the sport.

"Yeah, Eddie will definitely be there," Moran said. "I don't think I'll get in trouble for saying that, because it's obvious what a talent he is. Just thinking about the makeup of that Light-Heavyweight division is scary."

Scary, indeed. With Olympians Bob Foster and Michael Spinks already confirmed starters and with talent the likes of Lewis and Booker, competiton in the division, just amongst the United States fighters, will be fierce.

"These past five days have just made us completely re-evaluate how huge this thing is gonna be," said Moran. "And I'm just speaking on what we've seen here in Los Angeles. Who can say how much talent we'll have unearthed worldwide by the time the trials are through?"

07-28-2006, 11:59 PM	#55 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,412	CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH: IBL TRIALS UNVEIL TREASURE TROVE OF WEST COAST BOXING TALENT Friday 10 May 2002 A quartet of classy Middleweights, a flashy Welterweight and a talented, previously unknown of Light-Heavyweight from Arizona are numbered amongst the most impressive of what has been a plethora of boxing talent on show during the past five days at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Yes, the first week of selection trials for the International Boxing League's World Championship tournament regional qualifiers have almost come to a close, and it would be true to say that the league and it's officials have been overwhelmed by the quantity of skilled boxers that have discovered in Los Angeles. "Simply unbelieveable," said IBL Chief Director Douglas Moran. "Of course, we knew that this particular trial would be hugely popular. But we have honestly underestimated the level of boxing talent that this region possesses. Just in the Middleweight division alone, there's four fellas who are seriously of World Championship calibre. It's mindblowing." Those "four fellas" are 20 year-old local James Toney, 19 year-old Texas-born Terry Norris (who lives in Campo), 21 year-old San Franciscan Freddie Apostoli and a 22 year-old from Fresno named Bert Lytell. To say that the rivalry between the four of them during these past five days has been intense would be a gross understatement. Each of them has done everything they can to impress during some seriously heated amateur style bouts, while Norris and Toney, the more extroverted of the quartet, have engaged in some major league trash talking. "I just don't know what's gonna happen when they actually get in the ring with each other for real," said Moran. "The pride and desire and determination to be the best is just palpable. They have just been literally working their asses off." 18 year-old Jack Thompson is one of a number of Los Angeles natives (in addition to Toney) that have caught the eye of IBL scouts. Having only boxed in a handful of amateur bouts during the past year, the 5'8" Welterweight impressed with his quick hands and feet, proving an evasive opponent. He is blessed with excellent defensive skills and the enthusiasm was evident when Moran spoke about him. "That kid is like grease lightning," Moran said, laughing. "Most of those guys he was in against barely laid a hand on him. He's just full of pep and he's also got some good power in those fists of his." Without a doubt, though, the most fascinating and, apparently, most talented of all the fighters the IBL has seen this week is an 18 year-old Los Angeles-born, Prescott, Arizona resident who goes by the name of John Henry Lewis. If the modest young man is to be believed, he's never boxed seriously in his life prior to this week. But just a look at the notes taken on him by IBL scouts during the sessions of the past few days paint a picture of an individual with talent to burn: * Speed of a Welterweight * Great aggression * Power in both hands * Excellent defence * This kid has never boxed before??? "It's just intriguing, because no one had heard of him before this week," Moran said. "But he's real, has tremendous talent and he's a perfect gentleman." Another Light-Heavyweight that will surely be included in the league's regional qualifiers is the accomplished amateur from San Jose, Eddie Booker. Like Middleweight slugger James Toney, Booker was unsuccessful in his attempt to find a position on the 2000 Olympic team, losing to eventual Silver medallist Bob Foster in the selection final. But he has shown during the past five days that he's still as determined to make a mark in the sport. "Yeah, Eddie will definitely be there," Moran said. "I don't think I'll get in trouble for saying that, because it's obvious what a talent he is. Just thinking about the makeup of that Light-Heavyweight division is scary." Scary, indeed. With Olympians Bob Foster and Michael Spinks already confirmed starters and with talent the likes of Lewis and Booker, competiton in the division, just amongst the United States fighters, will be fierce. "These past five days have just made us completely re-evaluate how huge this thing is gonna be," said Moran. "And I'm just speaking on what we've seen here in Los Angeles. Who can say how much talent we'll have unearthed worldwide by the time the trials are through?" __________________ The Heavyweight Boxing Federation The Heavyweight Boxing Federation: Tournament Group Standings The International Boxing League MLB: 1958 and Beyond... Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 12-29-2007 at 09:03 PM.