Amateur Champion Bray Says Racism Mars U.S. Boxing Team

Growing up in a tough Van Nuys neighborhood amid ethnic friction, John Bray learned to recognize racism when he saw it.

Today, Bray is the national amateur heavyweight boxing champion and the favorite to represent the United States in that division at the Barcelona Olympics later this year. And he says he sees racism again.

On the U.S. boxing team.

“It isn’t even a subtle thing,” Bray said. “It’s right there for anyone to see. The team is filled with resentment and racism, and I’m just sick of it. I get racist stuff all day when I train with my own team. From the other fighters, even from the coaches of the team. I’m the only white guy on the team and all I hear all day long is ‘Hey, honky. Hey, white boy.’

“It’s sad, but that’s the way it is. . . . You can only ignore it for so long. I’ve kept this to myself for a few years. That’s long enough.”

He decided to speak out when, he said, the racist policies of USA Boxing, the amateur federation, put him at a disadvantage as he prepares to defend his national championship and earn a berth on the Olympic team.

Bray was one of only two current national champions--there are champions in 11 weight classes--forced to box in regional qualifying matches for the U.S. Championships, Feb. 24-29 in Colorado Springs. The nine other national champions were invited to box in more prestigious international tournaments this week. Most of them will get free rides into the main draw of the U.S. Championships.

Bray and Sergio Reyes, the champion at 119 pounds, each must fight his way into the main draw.

“They’re down on me so bad,” Bray said. “They don’t like it, but I’m all they’ve got. Since 1987, I’ve only lost twice to Americans in more than 50 bouts--once to Tommy Morrison and once to Javier Alvarez. And I beat Alvarez easily three times since then. I haven’t lost to an American heavyweight in almost three years, but still they treat me like a second-class heavyweight instead of the national champion.”

Pat Nappi, the longtime coach of the Olympic team who now oversees the boxing program as an adviser, often has questioned Bray’s work ethic and desire. But when asked to comment on Bray’s charges of racism, Nappi would not.

“Pat said simply that he feels he has nothing to offer on this,” said Jay Miller, the federation’s publicity director, from Colorado Springs. “He said, ‘There’s nothing for me to comment on concerning John Bray.’ ”

Joe Byrd, the coach who succeeded Nappi two years ago, was sympathetic.

“I wouldn’t put up with that ‘white boy’ and ‘honky’ stuff,” Byrd said from his home in Flint, Mich. “I’m the head coach, and if I ever heard any of that, the assistant coach who said it would be gone. John has talked to me about this problem and I told him to write a report, to name the coaches and boxers who are doing this sort of thing. He didn’t want to file a report.

“But I will say this: I know a lot of coaches, our coaches, who would do things like that, who would say things like and behave like that. They’re out there. I don’t say it doesn’t happen, the racial stuff and ‘white boy’ stuff against John. I know it happens. If I find the people doing it, they will be fired immediately.”

Bray said that some in USA Boxing don’t want him to represent the nation.

“It’s so obvious to me that they want a black heavyweight to represent the United States,” Bray said. “Anyone can see it. They want a Melvin Foster or Shannon Briggs. And I’ve beaten both of them easily, but that doesn’t seem to matter.”

Byrd acknowledges there is at least some truth to the accusation.

“There are some people, some coaches, who do want a black heavyweight,” Byrd said. “I know that.

“But the people he is competing against just aren’t in John Bray’s class. If he doesn’t win the U.S. championship again, and if he doesn’t make the Olympic team, it will be his own fault.

“If he puts out 100%, we just don’t have a heavyweight in the U.S. who can beat John Bray.”