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"Pro managers making their pitch at Trials"
July 1988 Boxing / Michael Katz, New York Daily News
Concord, Calif. - It has become almost fashionable to denigrate the potential of the US Olympic Boxing team hopefuls, but you can't judge by the vultures. Maybe the 1988 squad doesn't have much of a chance at gold in Seoul, what with he politics of international judging and maybe it hasn't the talent of the 1984 squad and certainly not that of the 1976 team. But don't tell that to the vultures, the pro boxing managers and promoters who swarm around the headquarters of the Olympic Trials, shopping for the choicest slabs of beef. "They make you feel as if you're a product" said Michael Bent, the 201 pound finalist from Cambria Heights, Queens. "It's not as bad as it was four years ago" said Bruce Silverglade of Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn and assistant manager. "At Fort Worth the vultures were there two days before the boxers were." Guys like Emmanuel Steward of Detroit's Kronk team and Rock Newman of Butch Lewis promotions are obviously here to replenish empty stables. Steward left yesterday but Newman has been cozy with Rid**** Bowe, the Bed-Stuy representative in the superheavyweight finals
Kenny Weldon, who trains fighters in Houston for Lou and Dan Duva, seems likely to sign 139 pound finalist Todd Foster. Bob Spagnola of Josephine Abercrombie's Houston Boxing Association already has the inside track on Kelcie Banks, the Pan Am champ upset in the 125 pound semi-finals by one of Sugar Ray Leonard's obvious targets, 17 year old Ed Hopson of St. Louis. Leonard and his attorney, Mike Trainer, would not like to be known as birds of the same feather as the other boxing recruiters, but they have set up shop in the lobby of the Concord Hilton headquarters for the week long tournament. "I'm not here recruiting" said Trainer, all innocence. "I'm just greeting mothers and fathers."
Sometimes, losers wind up as better pros (see Aaron Pryor, beaten by Howard Davis for a spot on the 1976 team). F. Mac Buckley, the Connecticut lawyer, thus may have a good one in the brawling John Scully, the 165 pounder eliminated in the semi's. Kevin Kelley of Flushing, Queens, loser of an agonizing decision to national champion Carl Daniels in the 125 pound division, is another fighter whose style is better suited for the hard-punching pros.
There is as much amateur talent here as there is anywhere else in the world outside Cuba, and unless there's a last-minute reprieve from Fidel, the Cubans aren't going to South Korea.
Arthur Johnson, 112 pounds, Kenneth Gould (147), Jemal Hinton and Kennedy McKinney (along with ousted Michael Collins, all in the loaded 119 pound class), Michael Carbajal (106), though he may have trouble with Eric Griffin in today's final, Romallis Ellis (132), Robert Salters (if he gets past Bowe) and Bent (if he gets past Ray Mercer) all have medal shots at Seoul.
The vultures aren't here for nothing.
July 1988 Boxing / Michael Katz, New York Daily News
Concord, Calif. - It has become almost fashionable to denigrate the potential of the US Olympic Boxing team hopefuls, but you can't judge by the vultures. Maybe the 1988 squad doesn't have much of a chance at gold in Seoul, what with he politics of international judging and maybe it hasn't the talent of the 1984 squad and certainly not that of the 1976 team. But don't tell that to the vultures, the pro boxing managers and promoters who swarm around the headquarters of the Olympic Trials, shopping for the choicest slabs of beef. "They make you feel as if you're a product" said Michael Bent, the 201 pound finalist from Cambria Heights, Queens. "It's not as bad as it was four years ago" said Bruce Silverglade of Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn and assistant manager. "At Fort Worth the vultures were there two days before the boxers were." Guys like Emmanuel Steward of Detroit's Kronk team and Rock Newman of Butch Lewis promotions are obviously here to replenish empty stables. Steward left yesterday but Newman has been cozy with Rid**** Bowe, the Bed-Stuy representative in the superheavyweight finals
Kenny Weldon, who trains fighters in Houston for Lou and Dan Duva, seems likely to sign 139 pound finalist Todd Foster. Bob Spagnola of Josephine Abercrombie's Houston Boxing Association already has the inside track on Kelcie Banks, the Pan Am champ upset in the 125 pound semi-finals by one of Sugar Ray Leonard's obvious targets, 17 year old Ed Hopson of St. Louis. Leonard and his attorney, Mike Trainer, would not like to be known as birds of the same feather as the other boxing recruiters, but they have set up shop in the lobby of the Concord Hilton headquarters for the week long tournament. "I'm not here recruiting" said Trainer, all innocence. "I'm just greeting mothers and fathers."
Sometimes, losers wind up as better pros (see Aaron Pryor, beaten by Howard Davis for a spot on the 1976 team). F. Mac Buckley, the Connecticut lawyer, thus may have a good one in the brawling John Scully, the 165 pounder eliminated in the semi's. Kevin Kelley of Flushing, Queens, loser of an agonizing decision to national champion Carl Daniels in the 125 pound division, is another fighter whose style is better suited for the hard-punching pros.
There is as much amateur talent here as there is anywhere else in the world outside Cuba, and unless there's a last-minute reprieve from Fidel, the Cubans aren't going to South Korea.
Arthur Johnson, 112 pounds, Kenneth Gould (147), Jemal Hinton and Kennedy McKinney (along with ousted Michael Collins, all in the loaded 119 pound class), Michael Carbajal (106), though he may have trouble with Eric Griffin in today's final, Romallis Ellis (132), Robert Salters (if he gets past Bowe) and Bent (if he gets past Ray Mercer) all have medal shots at Seoul.
The vultures aren't here for nothing.
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