Simms Rises From Challenger Bracket

Arthur Palac could barely contain his tears. Michael Simms Jr. could not stop smiling.

It was not difficult to figure out which fighter had made the U.S. Olympic team Saturday.

The dozen who claimed positions on the team at the box-offs at Foxwoods Resort Casino kept their Olympic dreams alive.

“It means everything,” said Simms, who emerged as the 178-pound team member by defeating Olanda Anderson. “Ten years of hard work pays off. It means the world right now.”

There was little consolation for the losers.

“You put 10 years into something, and people take it away,” said Palac, who lost a 10-9 decision to 165-pound champion Jeff Lacy.

Simms and Dante Craig (147 pounds) were the only fighters to emerge from the challenger bracket to make the team.

The 12-man team advances to the Americas qualifier March 27-April 1 in Tampa, Fla., where members will try to earn berths for the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in September.

The remaining members of the U.S. team are Brian Viloria (106), Jose Navarro (112), Clarence Vinson (119), Rocky Juarez (125), Marshall Martinez (132), Ricardo Williams (139), Jermain Taylor (156), Michael Bennett (201) and Calvin Brock (over 201).

U.S. Olympic Coach Tom Mustin said he was satisfied with the makeup of the team.

“The quality is great,” he said. “There were no runaway matches.”

Viloria, Juarez, Simms and Bennett, who all won world championships in 1999, have the best chances to win gold medals in Sydney. Williams, Taylor and Vinson also were outstanding at the U.S. trials and the box-offs and will be strong contenders to bring home gold.

First, though, the boxers must get through the qualifying. But Mustin isn’t too worried.

“You can probably put it in the bank that we can qualify all 12,” he said.

Ten of the champions from the U.S. trials held Feb. 9-13 in Tampa survived to gain spots on the team.

Craig upset two-time U.S. champion Larry Mosley in the closest match of the box-offs. Craig won in a total-punch tiebreaker (49-46) after the bout ended tied, 9-9.

Craig also defeated Mosley on Thursday--the challengers had to defeat the trials champion twice at the box-offs to make the team.

“The first time could have been a fluke,” Craig said. “This wasn’t a fluke.”

Brock, who lost Friday to Wilson, came to life late in their deciding match. Brock won 6-5, staggering Wilson with eight seconds left in the fourth and final round.

Simms, who had lost to Anderson three consecutive times coming into the box-offs, outhustled his opponent to make the team.