S.F.'s Miller Bounces Back, Outslugs Ward 23-12 to Stay Alive in Olympic Trials

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

A thankful S.F.'s Raquel Miller gets down on her knees after defeating Tiffanie Ward. (Norcalboxing.net)

San Francisco's Raquel Miller kept her Olympic hopes alive with a 23-12 decision victory over Tiffanie Ward in the middleweight challengers' bracket quarterfinals of the inaugural U.S. Women's Olympic Trials in Airway Heights, Washington.

"I was able to take a step back in the clinch and get my distance to throw my shots," Miller said. "[Ward] was a tall opponent, so we worked on a gameplan to really use my reach, too."

Ward, from Hacienda Heights, Calif., aimed to pressure Miller, but on the strength of a powerful left hook and a looping right hand, Miller was able to keep the hard-charging Ward at bay as the bout progressed. Miller led throughout the bout, and by the third round, the City fighter had built a lead sizable enough to cruise the rest of the way.

Miller (blue) lands a left hand as she trades with Ward. (Norcalboxing.net)

However, the Bayview native refused to release her foot off the gas pedal and continued to slug it out with Ward, increasing her advantage on the cards en route to capturing her first triumph in the tournament. Miller lost her opener last night, 16-10, to Pittsburgh, Pa.'s Tika Hemingway.

"I had a rocky start yesterday with some headgear issues, but I'm thankful for the win," Miller said. "It was my first fight since the (National) PAL last year. I definitely felt some butterflies. This time I was more comfortable in there."

"Raquel is naturally left-handed, so she gravitates toward going southpaw sometimes," said Miller's trainer, Ben Bautista of SFC Boxing in the Tenderloin. We gave [Ward] some movement before she punched and then threw our shots to catch her off-balance."

Trainer Ben Bautista gives Miller some instruction in between rounds. (Norcalboxing.net)

Miller now advances to a Wednesday meeting with Centerline, Michigan's Andrecia Wasson. The two have met before, with Wasson defeating Miller by decision in the National PAL Tournament last October. Now the City fighter, who turns 27 on Wednesday, would love to celebrate her birthday in style by getting revenge in a clash where the loser goes home.

"This time around, she's more experienced, so you're going to see a different Raquel," Bautista said. "Wasson is a counterpuncher, and she makes you reach, but she also throws wide punches. We're going to throw her some feints, and give her some more movement."

Miller agreed, while also noting that she's going to be a lot less tentative with being first with her punches in the rematch with Wasson.

"I'm ready for her now, and I'd like nothing more than to give myself a birthday present with a victory tomorrow," Miller said. "It's go time. It's time to represent for my family, my people, and my city. The battle has just begun."

Come back to Norcalboxing.net later for a full video of the fight!

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.