U.S. Wins 2 of 8 Bouts Against Soviets

American Darin Allen avenged an earlier loss to Soviet Ruslan Taramov to highlight the USA-USSR Amateur Boxing Invitational at Arco Arena Saturday night.

The Columbus, Ohio, boxer outpointed Taramov, 2-1, to win the 165-pound competition. In January, Allen lost a split decision to Taramov in the Soviet Union.

Allen dominated the first two rounds but lost the third when Taramov hit him with a punch to the head.

“I’ve got more confidence this time, and I have a world championship under my belt,” Allen said, referring to his victory May 18 at the World Boxing Championships in Reno, Nev.

Overall, the American team won only two of the eight matches.

Kenneth Gould of Rockford, Ill., had a strong third round to outpoint the 1985 Soviet champion Michael Shirin, 3-0, in the 147-pound competition.

The Soviets won both 156-pound matches. In the first bout, Victor Egorov’s aggressive style allowed him to outpoint Timothy Littles of Flint, Mich., 2-1.

Manvel Avestisian, who defeated Littles earlier this year in USSR-USA exhibition boxing, was judged a 2-1 winner over Don Giron of Thornton, Colo., in the second 156-pound match.