Nationals Day 4: Olympic Trials Winner Correa Pulls Out; Women's Tourney Starts

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

San Jose's Eros Correa has surprisingly ended his Olympic dream early. (AP)

After waiting in the wings for the first three days, the light flyweights entered the fray at the USA Boxing National Championships on Wednesday.

However, one name noticeably absent from the participants was San Jose's Eros Correa.  The defending Olympic Trials winner has pulled out of the tournament after a bout of sickness left him unable to make the 108-pound limit.

“I was feeling sick when I got to Colorado last weekend, so I drank some water to feel better,” said Correa.  “I still had to make weight, though, and when I tried to burn off the pounds, nothing came off." 

Now Correa heads home, becoming the second Trials champion rendered unable to recover his place on the team.  Super heavyweight Lenroy “Cam” Thompson of Lenexa, Kan., was suspended one year by the United States Anti-Doping Association (USADA) for not meeting whereabouts requirements for out-of-competition drug testing.

“It’s obviously disappointing,” Correa added. “I worked so hard to get here, and I feel like I earned my trip to the Olympics by winning Trials, but that’s the new rules for you, I guess.”

In addition to the six weight classes featuring NorCal and Central Cal men, the women's tournament also began today, with four locals in opening-round action. 

WEDNESDAY'S MATCHUPS

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (119 LBS.)
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NORCAL

San Francisco's Casey Morton vs. Nebraska's Lindsay Bartels

CENTRAL CAL

Watsonville's Maria Vizcaino vs. Pacific Grove's Jamie Mitchell 

WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (125 LBS.)

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CENTRAL CAL

Fresno's Shanne Ruelas vs. Pennsylvania's Tameka Montgomery 
 

MEN'S LIGHT FLYWEIGHT (108 LBS.)

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NORCAL

Chicago's Shawn Simpson def. San Jose's Eros Correa by walkover 

MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (123 LBS.)

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NORCAL

Sacramento's Mario Ayala vs. Detroit's JaRico O'Quinn

CENTRAL CAL
Fresno's Gary Salazar vs. Louisiana's Quantavious Green 

MEN'S LIGHTWEIGHT (132 LBS.)

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NORCAL
Vacaville's Adam Fiel vs. Louisiana's Quillian Ware

CENTRAL CAL
#1 Avenal's Jose Ramirez vs. North Carolina's Tommy LaRoque

MEN'S WELTERWEIGHT (152 LBS.)
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NORCAL
Newcastle's William Blake vs. Fresno's Mark Hernandez
Pittsburg's Michael Morales vs. New York's Christopher Galeano

CENTRAL CAL
Fresno's Mark Hernandez vs. Newcastle's William Blake

MEN'S LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (178 LBS.)
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NORCAL
Oakland's C.J. Mills vs. Indianapolis' Malcolm Jones

MEN'S HEAVYWEIGHT (201 LBS.)
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NORCAL
Redwood City's Clinton Nelson vs. #3 Las Vegas' Michael Hunter

CENTRAL CAL
Stockton's Antwon Abron vs. #1 New York's Joseph Williams

MEN'S SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT (201+ LBS.)
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NORCAL
#1 San Francisco's LaRon Mitchell vs. Carson's George Faavae

CENTRAL CAL
Bakersfield's Charles Martin vs. Lancaster's Avery Gibson Jr.

Boxing correspondent Ryan Maquiñana is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Advisory Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.