Camp Pendleton Boxer Allen Runs Out of Gas, Miracles

Robert Allen, the Camp Pendleton Marine who came out of nowhere to stop six consecutive opponents and win a national championship last February, ran out of miracles Thursday night.

In an intense, classic matchup of two outstanding punchers in the light-middleweight class in the U.S. Olympic boxing trials, Raul Marquez of Houston wore down Allen, knocked him down in the third round and stopped him with 20 seconds left in the bout.

In the most anticipated and certainly the most exciting matchup yet in the 95-boxer trials tournament, Allen showed his eagerness by punching Marquez’s tendered hand instead of shaking it in the prefight introductions.

Allen had a strong first round against Marquez, a two-time national champion and current world champion at 156 pounds. He even rocked the Houston boxer with a left hook 20 seconds into the bout. And when he landed another left hook late in the round, it made Marquez stumble.

But Marquez picked up the pace in the second and said afterward he could sense Allen was tiring rapidly late in the round.

Midway through the third, Marquez suddenly sent Allen sagging into the ropes with a flurry that drew a standing eight-count from referee Nick Cimmento. Allen was knocked down seconds later by a Marquez left hook. He arose again, but when Marquez freely hit him with a combination, Cimmento stopped it.

Allen was so shaken he needed assistance coming down the steps from the ring. Later, he said he was running on fumes in the late going.

“At the time he got me with that first good shot, I was winded, and I was trying to get some big punches off, letting my hands go . . . and he caught me,” Allen said.

Marquez seemed unhappy many here had tabbed Allen as a tall order for him.

“Yeah, it made me a little angry that people were building this guy up to be such a great opponent for me,” Marquez said.

“He’s good, but he’s only a national-class boxer. I’m world-class. I’ve beaten Cubans and Europeans. I just had too much experience for him.”

The possibility exists that Allen’s showing might cause USA Boxing officials to select him to meet the trials winner, presumably Marquez, at the June 26-28 Olympic boxoffs in Phoenix.