U.S. Boxing Roster Is Nearly Set

It took an extra week because of the controversy that wound up in an arbitrator’s hands, but the U.S. Olympic Trials for the 152-pound division finally ended Saturday afternoon in Cleveland when Austin Trout defeated Cory Jones, 24-15, at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center.

After an arbitrator ruled that Juan McPherson and Andre Berto were justifiably eliminated from the competition by USA Boxing officials, the 152-pound competition, which had been suspended, was concluded. Trout qualified from the losers’ bracket in the double-elimination event.

This morning, at Cleveland’s Old School Boxing Club, Trout will face Vanes Martirosyan of Glendale in a box-off for a spot on the 2004 U.S. team.

Because Martirosyan advanced from the winner’s bracket by virtue of his victory over Jones on Friday night, Trout would have to defeat Martirosyan twice to vault over him.

-- Steve Springer