USA Boxing Finalizes the 2011 Pan American Games Qualifier Squad

(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The 2011 United States squad for the first 2011 Pan American Games Qualifier, March 25-29, in Cumana, Venezuela has been finalized. All 13 Olympic weight divisions will be represented at the event with boxers in the 10 men’s weight divisions and three women’s weight classes competing for a berth in the 2011 Pan American Games October 13-30, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The 13 boxers representing the United States will be: male light flyweight Michael Bennedosso (Fort Carson, Colo.), male flyweight John Franklin (Fort Carson, Colo.), female flyweight Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.), male bantamweight Luis Feliciano (Milwaukee, Wis.), male lightweight Toka Kahn-Clary (Providence, R.I.), female lightweight Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.), male light welterweight Pedro Sosa (Bronx, N.Y.), male welterweight Errol Spence (Desoto, Texas), male middleweight Luis Arias (Milwaukee, Wis.), female middleweight Tiffanie Hearn (Louisville, Ky.), male light heavyweight Jeffrey Spencer (Fort Carson, Colo.), male heavyweight Michael Hunter (Las Vegas, Nev.), and male super heavyweight Danny Kelly (Washington DC).

The male boxers from light flyweight through the middleweight division will need to advance to the semifinal round to earn a berth in Guadalajara while the light heavyweight through super heavyweight contestants will need to finish in the top three. On the women’s side, the three U.S. boxers will need to earn a berth in the finals to advance to Guadalajara.

The 13-person squad will be led by coaches Joe Zanders(Long Beach, Calif.), Barry Hunter(Fort Washington, Md.), Gloria Peek (Norfolk, Va.), and Mike Stafford(Cincinnati, Ohio). Gary Pliner (Janesville, Wis.) will serve as the Team Manager with Joe Sanchez (Darien, Ill.) working as the AIBA official andDr. Armando Sanchez(Milwaukee, Wis.) joining the squad as the Team Physician.

The team participated in a short mini camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and will depart for Venezuela late tonight. The team will arrive in Cumana on Wednesday prior to the technical meeting and event draw, which will take place on Thursday. Competition will begin on Friday at the Ely Montes Coliseum in Cumana and run through Tuesday prior to the team returning home on Wednesday, March 30.

United States Pan American Games Qualifier Team

108 lbs/male: Michael Bennedosso, Fort Carson, Colo.

112 lbs/female: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y.

114 lbs/male: John Franklin, Fort Carson, Colo.

123 lbs/male: Luis Feliciano, Milwaukee, Wis.

132 lbs/male: Toka Kahn-Clary, Providence, R.I.

132 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash.

141 lbs/male: Pedro Sosa, Bronx, N.Y.

152 lbs/male: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas
165 lbs/male: Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis.

178 lbs/female: Jeffrey Spencer, Fort Carson, Colo.

201 lbs/male: Michael Hunter, Las Vegas, Nev.

201+ lbs/male: Danny Kelly, Washington DC

National Coach: Joe Zanders, Long Beach, Calif.

Coach: Mike Stafford, Cincinnati, Ohio

Coach: Barry Hunter, Fort Washington, Md.

Coach: Gloria Peek, Norfolk, Va.

Team Manager: Gary Pliner, Janesville, Wis.

AIBA Official: Joe Sanchez, Darien, Ill.

Team Physician: Dr. Armando Sanchez, Milwaukee, Wis.

USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).