Meet the athletes competing in the light flyweight, flyweight and bantamweight divisions at the 2016 Olympic Trials for Men’s Boxing, December 7-12. There are 23 athletes boxing in the three smallest weight classes at the Olympic Trials in Reno, Nev.
In 2012, USA Boxing did not qualify an athlete in the light flyweight division but the flyweight class was represented by the only three-time Olympian in USA Boxing history – Raus’hee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio). Joseph Diaz, Jr. (S. El Monte, Calif.) was the American boxer in the bantamweight at the 2012 Olympic Games.
The last American boxer to win an Olympic medal in the light flyweight class was Michael Carbajal (Phoenix, Ariz.) with a silver medal in 1988. Flyweight Timothy Austin (Cincinnati, Ohio) took bronze in the 1992 Olympic Games and bantamweight Clarence Vinson (Washington DC) won bronze in the 2000 Olympic Games.
The light flyweight, flyweight and bantamweight divisions weight maximums were changed prior to the 2012 Olympic Games due to a men’s weight class being removed. The light flyweight maximum is 108 pounds, the flyweight divisions runs from 109 pounds to 114 pounds and the bantamweight class range is 115 pounds to 123 pounds.
2016 Olympic Trials Light Flyweight, Flyweight and Bantamweight Athlete Rosters
Light flyweight/108 lbs
1. Nico Hernandez, Wichita, Kansas (WSB and World Championship Team Trial)
2. Melik Elliston, Denver, Colo. (USA Boxing National Championships)
3. Pablo Ramirez, Weslaco, Texas (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
4. D’Angelo Sandate, Thornton, Colo. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
5. Leroy Davila, Princeton, N.J. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
6. Adrian Servin, Phoenix, Ariz. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
7. Nicholas Scaturchio, Hartsdale, N.Y. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
8. Rondarrius Hunter, Atlanta, Ga. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
Flyweight/114 lbs
1. Brent Venegas III, Sacramento, Calif. (WSB and World Championship Team Trial)
2. Antonio Vargas, Kissimmee, Fla. (USA Boxing National Championships)
3. Aarkeyse Higdon, Lansing, Mich. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
4. Gilbert Renteria, Houston, Texas (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
5. Jay Crenshaw, Houston, Texas (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
6. Christian Carto, Deptford, N.J. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
7. Eros Correa, San Jose, Calif. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
8. Khalid Twaiti, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
Bantamweight/123 lbs
1. Francisco Martinez, Dallas, Texas (WSB and World Championship Team Trial)
2. Ruben Villa, Salinas Calif. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
3. Irvin Gonzalez, Worcester, Mass. (Olympic Trials Qualifier I)
4. Shakur Stevenson, Newark, N.J. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
5. Mikhail Montgomery, Macon, Ga. (Olympic Trials Qualifier II)
6. Duke Ragan, Cincinnati, Ohio (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
7. Efren Lopez, Fresno, Calif. (Olympic Trials Qualifier III)
* As the 2015 USA Boxing National Champion has turned professional, there were be seven competitors in the bantamweight division at the 2016 Olympic Trials for Men’s boxing.
The tournament next to the athletes’ names denotes the tournament in which they qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials for Men’s Boxing.
Light Flyweight, Flyweight and Bantamweight Fun Facts
The youngest boxer in the smallest group of weight divisions is 17-year-old high school senior Nicholas Scaturchio (Hartsdale, N.Y.). He will turn 18 during competition in Reno. Two-time USA Boxing National Champion Leroy Davila (Princeton, N.J.) is the oldest athlete in the three weight divisions at 27-years-old. Davila is juggling a full-time job, his duties as a dad and his boxing training as he enters his first Olympic Trials.
Several athletes in the smaller weight divisions train with their fathers, including top ranked light flyweights Nico Hernandez and Melik Elliston. Both Hernandez’s father, Lewis, and Elliston’s dad, Everette, recently participated in USA Boxing training camps at the Olympic Training Center. Bantamweight Mikhail Montgomery is one of three Montgomery brothers to enjoy great success under the tutelage of their father Michael Montgomery, Sr. In addition, D’Angelo Sandate, Adrian Servin and Gilbert Renteria also train under the watchful eyes of their fathers.
Boxing and school aren’t the only occupations that the athletes in the light flyweight – bantamweight classes manage. Hernandez works as a Lube Tech in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, Davila makes his living in solar paneling and returning Olympic Trials champion Eros Correa (San Jose, Calif.) is a security officer.
There are several highly decorated athletes in the light flyweight, flyweight and bantamweight divisions at the Olympic Trials for Men’s Boxing. Flyweight Correa is the only returning champion in the tournament. He won the light flyweight division in the 2012 event but has moved up to the flyweight class for his second straight Olympic Trials. Four athletes in the smaller weight classes own medals in key international events. Flyweight Antonio Vargas (Kissimmee, Fla.) won the lone gold medal in men’s action for the United States at the 2015 Pan American Games. Vargas’ Pan American Games teammate Francisco Martinez (Dallas, Texas) took bronze in the pre-Olympic year event in Toronto, Canada. Light flyweight Nico Hernandez also enjoyed success against foes from north, central and south America, winning bronze at the AMBC Continental Championships this past summer. Eighteen-year-old Shakur Stevenson (Newark, N.J.) won gold in the 2013 Junior World Championships, 2014 Youth World Championships and 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
