Meet the athletes competing in the light welterweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions at the 2016 Olympic Trials for Men’s Boxing, December 7-12. There are 24 athletes boxing in the three middle weight classes at the Olympic Trials in Reno, Nev.
At the 2012 Olympic Games, United States Marine Jamel Herring (Coram, N.Y.) competed in the light welterweight division, fast rising professional prospect Errol Spence, Jr. (Desoto, Texas) boxed in the welterweight division and Terrell Gausha (Cleveland, Ohio) represented the United States at middleweight.
The last American boxer to win an Olympic medal in the light welterweight class was Ricardo Willilams, Jr. (Cincinnati, Ohio) with a silver medal in 2000. Prior to a reduction to the men’s weight divisions, welterweight Kenneth Gould (Rockford, Ill.) won bronze in 1988 and junior middleweight David Reid (Philadelphia, Pa.) claimed gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Andre Dirrell (Flint, Mich.) was the last American middleweight to win an Olympic medal, taking bronze at the 2004 Olympics.
2016 OLYMPIC TRIALS LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT, WELTERWEIGHT AND MIDDLEWEIGHT ATHLETE ROSTERS
Light welterweight/141 lbs
1. Tyrek Irby, Oxon Hill, Md. (WSB and World Championship Team Trial)
2. Luis Feliciano, Milwaukee, Wis. (USA Boxing National Championships)
3. Gary Russell, Capitol Heights, Md. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
4. Rahim Gonzales, Sylmar, Calif. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
5. Jaron Ennis, Philadelphia, Pa. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
6. Jamaine Ortiz-Rodriguez, Worcester, Mass. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
7. Abraham Nova, Albany, N.Y. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III) (2014 USA Boxing National Champion)
8. Richardson Hitchins, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
Welterweight/152 lbs
1. Brian Ceballo, Brooklyn, N.Y. (WSB and World Championship Team Trial)
2. Ardreal Holmes, Flint, Mich. (USA Boxing National Championships)
3. Jose Alday, Jr., Odessa, Texas (Olympic Trials Qualifier I) (two-time USA Boxing National Champion)
4. Vardges Vardanyan, Panorama City, Calif. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
5. Paul Kroll, Philadelphia, Pa. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
6. Mark Dawson, Philadelphia, Pa. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
7. Ferdinand Kerobyan, N. Hollywood, Calif. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
8. Rashid Stevens, Gahanna, Ohio (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
Middleweight/165 lbs
1. Anthony Campbell, Covington, Tenn. (WSB and World Championship Team Trial)
2. Chordale Booker, Brooklyn, N.Y. (USA Boxing National Championships)
3. Marquis Moore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
4. Christopher Ousley, Middleton, Wis. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
5. Leshawn Rodriguez, Medford, N.J. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II) (Two-time USA Boxing National Champion)
6. Trevor Lattimore, Bridgeport, Conn. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
7. Charles Conwell, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
8. Carlos Monroe, Snellville, Ga. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
*The tournament next to the athletes’ names denotes the tournament in which they qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials for Men’s Boxing.
Light Welterweight, Welterweight and Middleweight Fun Facts
The youngest athlete in the middle weight divisions is welterweight Ferdinand Kerobyan (Sun Valley, Calif.) at only 17-years-old. The high school senior will celebrate his 18th birthday on the day following the conclusion of the Olympic Trials. The oldest athlete in the middle weight divisions is 28-year-old welterweight and father of three
Rashid Stevens (Columbus, Ohio).
The middle weight divisions athlete rosters feature quite an array of occupations outside of the boxing ring. Middleweight Christopher Ousley (Middleton, Wis.) has only been boxing for three years but he’s climbed the ranks quickly. He makes his living as a firefighter and personal trainer when he’s not focused on the sweet science. Light welterweight Jamaine Ortiz-Rodriguez (Worcester, Mass.) works as a carpenter and welterweight Paul Kroll (Philadelphia, Pa.) is in a similar profession as an electrician. Welterweight Rashid Stevens (Gahanna, Ohio) is a government contractor while fellow 152-pounder Brian Ceballo (Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcases his creative side as an actor and musician.
The middle weight division athletes also have skills in the classroom. Light welterweight Gary Russell (Capitol Heights, Md.) was the valedictorian of his high school class this past May and had the highest GPA in his county. Reigning light welterweight national champion Luis Feliciano (Milwaukee, Wis.) recently graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Criminology and Law Studies and middleweight Christopher Ousley (Middleton, Wis.) holds a four-year degree in business administration. U.S. Army Veteran Marquis Moore (Colorado Springs, Colo.) went to the American Military University before qualifying for the Olympic Trials at the middleweight division.
Light welterweight Gary Russell (Capitol Heights, Md.) is the third Russell brother to qualify for the Olympic Trials and his qualification for the the 2016 Olympic Trials for Men’s Boxing marks the third straight Olympic Trials with a Russell brother competing in the event. He is one of six brothers named Gary Russell and his older brother Gary Russell, Jr., won the 2008 Olympic Trials en route to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Gary Jr. is currently the WBC Featherweight World Champion.
Gary Allan Russell qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the light welterweight division.
