Sunday, February 27, 2000
Second local boxer makes Olympic team
BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Dante Craig (left) lands a jab on Larry Mosley.
(AP photo)
| ZOOM |
|
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. — Dante Craig rallied once again in the final round, and won the 147-pound spot on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team here Saturday.
This time, Craig landed the last point of the fight with a solid right hand to the headgear of Larry Mosley, snap ping his head back.
“What a feeling!” said Craig, 21, a graduate of Woodward High School. “Just listen to the sound of it: U.S. Olympian. I did it the hard way, but I did it. I knew I needed the fourth round. A lot of things went through my mind.”
Craig joined Ricardo Williams Jr. on the Olympic team. Of the 12 boxers on the team, 10 are from different cities. Cincinnati is the only city with two boxers on the team, a reprise of 1992 when Tim Austin and Larry Donald represented the U.S. in Barcelona. Austin won a bronze medal.
“We're going to improve on that,” Williams said.
It was Williams who gave Craig a lift before the start of the fourth round Saturday. Snapping him out of it was the voice of Williams, his sparring partner and friend.
“Look at me, Dante!”' Williams yelled. “Look at me!”
Craig turned his head and saw Williams, who was tapping his heart with his right fist and motioning him to land that straight right on Mosley.
Which is exactly what Craig did. Trailing 9-8 late in the fourth round of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials' Box-offs, his long reach connected with Mosley. It was a good shot, and tied the score at 9-9.
That meant USA Boxing officials had to go to a tiebreaker between the five judges. That meant going to total punch count. And it meant throwing out the judges' scores which had the most and least punch counts for both fighters.
When they added up what was left, Craig won 49-46.
“I had a dream (Friday night) I won the fight, but then I woke up said, "Aw, man, I haven't won anything yet!',” Craig said, grinning.
Craig was happy to win for his mother, Mary, who died 18 months ago of breast cancer. She was 48.
When Craig's mother died, he was rudderless. He had all but quit going to the gym. Then, four months later, his brother, Dion, had a dream of his own. Mother Mary “came” to Dion and told him to use his big brother's influence and get Dante back into the gym.
“I decided to give it one more shot,” Craig said.
Cincinnati's showing isn't a record. U.S. Olympic coach Tom Mustin said Philadelphia had three boxers on the '96 squad.
“But now Cincinnati has taken over,” he said. “Cincinnati and California. Those are the two hotbeds of boxing right now.”
There are three Californians on the team.
Mustin called Williams, 18, the team's most talented boxer.
“He could definitely win the gold,” Mustin said.
If Williams is the most talented U.S. boxer, Craig might be the biggest surprise. Entering the Trials two weeks ago in Tampa, he was ranked eighth nationally in his weight class and was beaten 15-5 by the No. 1, Mosley. But Craig beat Mosley twice here in two days.
“He has a huge heart,” said Roy Dale, Craig's trainer.
Even though Williams and Craig are Olympians, they still must qualify to box in the Summer Games in Sydney. USA Boxing officials predict that all 12 members of their team will qualify, most of them relatively easily.
Saturday story: Williams makes Olympic team
Sports Stories
Bichette walks softly, carries a big stick
Five Questions With: Deion Sanders
Santiago wants to compete
Old Left-hander should have day
Burress intrigues Bengals
Alexander: No place like home
Prentice: Miami background shouldn't matter
Redskins pick twice ahead of Bengals
Johnson back to face Louisville
Louisville on guard vs. UC shooters
Caring coach made difference with Johnson
Harper: We hardly knew 'ya
Riled-up Muskies seek revenge
