By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net
Raquel Miller (second from left) and her team celebrate her
third straight win at the Olympic Trials. (Norcalboxing.net)
San Francisco’s Raquel Miller enjoyed her first double-digit victory of the week as she beat Baltimore’s Franchon Crews 26-15 to advance to the middleweight semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Trials in Airway Heights, Wash.
The 165-pounder from the Bayview was a scientist on the inside, dissecting her foe with crisp shots down the middle, namely a quick left jab followed by a straight right and a thunderous left hook. Miller consistently beat Crews to the punch, perhaps the by-product of the Maryland fighter’s wide punches.
By the fourth and final round, Miller’s lengthy lead put the fight out of reach, but Crews almost captured an equalizer when she seemed to rock the City pug with what appeared to be a looping left on the inside. However, Miller evaded any further trouble before the final bell.
"I was not hurt," Miller said. "She caught me, but I was off-balance."
Miller now gets a rematch on Friday with Pittsburgh’s Tika Hemingway, who dealt “Ms. Pretty Beast” a decision loss in Monday’s tournament opener. The winner will meet Flint, Mich.’s Claressa Shields in Saturday’s final.
To watch tonight's fight, click this link: http://www.tinyurl.com/millerfriday
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.
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