Newz Forum: BOXING: Martirosyan earns welterweight decision

Associated Press

CLEVELAND(AP) -- Vanes Martirosyan won the final spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team Sunday, beating Austin Trout to win the welterweight division in a belated end to the box-offs.

Martirosyan, from Glendale, Calif., won 25-17 in a match held two days after his 10 teammates clinched spots on the team. The welterweight division was thrown into turmoil during the Olympic trials last week in Tunica, Miss., when top contenders Juan McPherson and Andre Berto were disqualified.


McPherson and Berto petitioned a judge and an arbitrator in an attempt to get back into the competition, but USA Boxing's final ruling was upheld. Martirosyan won two fights in Cleveland to earn the spot.


The 11 fighters will train in Colorado Springs until the Tournament of the Americas in Tijuana, Mexico, on March 12-20. The boxers must finish in the top two of their weight class to guarantee themselves a trip to the Olympics in Athens.