By John Erardi
Enquirer staff writer

At 24 years old, Ron Siler Jr. is the "old man" of a U.S. Olympic boxing team that is characterized by its hand and foot speed, but lack of knockout power.

Siler Jr., though, has both, plus the international experience and strength more typical of Eastern European fighters, who tend to be older, too.

"He's special in that he fights for the computer scoring," said famed trainer Emmanuel Steward. "He's the first American fighter I've seen who does that."

Siler Jr. was born in Knoxville, Tenn., but was moved to Cincinnati as a newborn. His dad, Ron Siler Sr., was an amateur kickboxer and had his son in the gym by age 6 and in the ring by age 10.

"From the beginning, my dad has been there for me," said Siler Jr. The question now for the 112-pound boxer is whether he can remain sufficiently focused to medal in Athens.

Despite the success of Cincinnatians in making the U.S. Olympic boxing team -- six fighters have been on the four teams from 1992-present - no Cincinnatian has ever won gold.

"If his mind is right, nobody can beat him," said Terry O'Brien, who operates Shamrock Gym in Covington, where Siler Jr. trained for these Olympics.

Siler Jr. said the two fights he lost recently in preparation for the Olympics occurred because he was preoccupied with personal issues back home. He assures they are behind him now.

"When I watched our Olympians fight on TV from Sydney in 2000, I said to myself, 'Nothing's going to stop me from making that team and winning a medal in 2004,' " Siler Jr. said.

The youngster on this year's Olympic boxing team is 17-year-old Rau'Shee Warren, a 106-pounder, who is also from Cincinnati.