The Seoul Games / Day 3 : Hembrick Misses Match and Forfeits : U.S. Coach Takes Blame for Foul-Up

U.S. middleweight Anthony Hembrick failed to show up for his bout against South Korean Ha Jong Ho on time Monday and lost the bout on a forfeit.

When Ha entered the ring to cheers from his home crowd, about 10:40 a.m., Hembrick was not yet at the Chamshill Students’ Gymnasium. He arrived 12 minutes later and entered his dressing room to change into his shorts. Two minutes later, Ha was announced the winner by walkover.

U.S. Coach Ken Adams at first blamed Hembrick’s lateness on confusion over the schedule and a transportation snag, then took the blame.

“I take the blame,” Adams said. “I feel bad for Hembrick. I wish there was something I could do.”

Adams said the U.S. contingent thought Hembrick would be the next-to-last fight of the session. He was actually scheduled to fight fifth because of the use of two rings.

“The schedule’s confusing if you look at it,” Adams said. “And we had transportation problems. The buses are supposed to run every 30 minutes but they ran every hour.”

Adams said the U.S. team got on a bus at 10:30 a.m. after waiting at least 30 minutes. Still, he said they thought they were on time when they entered the gym.

“We had no idea it was that close,” Adams said.

Hembrick stayed in his dressing room preparing to fight through all the confusion. His face showed no emotion and the coaches tried to keep him calm but the turmoil took effect.

When asked if he thought the South Koreans misled him in order to secure victory for their fighter, Adams said: “It’s very possible. I hope not.”

Hembrick was plagued with controversy all week. A Minnesota arbitrator Thursday ruled Jermome James, a middleweight from Sioux Falls, S.D., should be given a chance to face Hembrick in a box-off in Seoul. James said he was under duress when he lost in the Olympic trials tournament because his ex-wife died the previous week. James arrived in Seoul Saturday night but U.S. Amateur Boxing officials informed him the deadline for entering the tournament had passed and told him to go home.