Another Reversal at Boxing Trials

Confronted with a formal complaint filed with the U.S. Olympic Committee and informed that it had exceeded its authority, USA Boxing reversed itself for the fourth time in a week, ruling that the 152-pound division of the U.S. boxing trials would go forward with the four survivors.

Not here, where the rest of the trials concluded Saturday night at the Tunica Arena and Exposition Center, but at the Olympic box-offs in Cleveland next week.

The box-offs, which will determine the 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing squad, will begin Friday at the Cleveland Convocation Center.

But on Thursday, Cory Jones and Vanes Martirosyan will fight for a spot in the winners’ bracket, and Edward Joseph and Austin Trout will fight to advance in the losers’ bracket of the 152-pound division, continuing the trials that were scheduled to be concluded Saturday.

Instead, a dispute over a first-round match between Juan McPherson and Andre Berto brought the division to a halt. McPherson, who was ruled out of the tournament on medical grounds after banging his head on the canvas in a first-round match, and Berto, who was disqualified for causing that injury, are threatening legal action if they are not allowed back into the tournament.

On Friday, Jones, Martirosyan, Joseph and Trout filed an Article IX complaint, which covers an athlete’s right to compete, that would have been heard by an independent arbiter Saturday had the board not allowed the boxers to return to the ring.

The board was informed Friday night that it didn’t have the authority to make the ruling it did at a Thursday night session to restart the 152-pound competition with all eight fighters back in.

“It’s been a long week, a frustrating week,” said Eric Parthen, executive director of USA Boxing, “but ultimately, we got to where we needed to go.”

At least until the next complaint is filed.