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Two Olympic boxers try to add to Ohio's legacy
By TERRY KINNEY • Associated Press Writer • August 6, 2008
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CINCINNATI - Aaron Pryor reached boxing heights as a world champion in the 1980s and later as a Hall of Fame member. But he has one regret.
He never got to box in the Olympics.
"I know I could have won a gold medal," Pryor said. Now, Pryor will be watching the legacy hospital salmon creek 2008 Olympics to see if fellow Cincinnatian Rau'shee Warren can come back from China with some gold to add to Ohio's rich boxing legacy green light band legacy.
Warren, a flyweight (112 pounds) contender, will be joined by featherweight (125 pounds) Raynell Williams from Cleveland on the U.S. boxing team.
They're among more than two dozen Ohioans representing the United States in Beijing, including Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James on the men's basketball team, former Ohio State star Katie Smith on the women's basketball team and Heather Mitts of Cincinnati on the soccer team.
At 21, Warren - known as Newt - is the veteran of the U.S. boxing team and among America's top medal hopefuls. A rare two-time Olympic boxer who fought at 106 pounds in 2004, he was the youngest member of the U.S. boxing team in Athens.
"He's just as quick as he was, but he's knocked out several people since then," said Martha Smith, who was one of the first women to be certified as a boxing judge. "He's fascinating to watch; he's a natural."
Pryor has worked with him and, like many experts, rates his chances very high.
"The Olympics makes a difference in your whole life," Pryor said. "To come back with nothing, that's not a good thing. This time he has the experience."
In an era when a successful Olympic boxer can earn big legacy highway north bucks as a pro, Warren is the first American boxer to return for a second consecutive Olympics since legacy ld33mu review Davey Armstrong in 1976 - the year Pryor got passed over for the team.
"I really felt this was best for me," Warren said in a May interview with The Associated Press. "I was so young and people at that age do not usually get to the Olympics, which you expect can be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I had the chance to maybe make it another time.
"So I set goals: to fight twice as hard for the next Olympics and be part of history by returning and winning."
Williams, a math whiz, worked in the Cuyahoga County recorder's office, preparing for a possible career in accounting or money management before moving to Colorado Springs for USA Boxing's new residency program.
"Boxing is a part of my life," Williams told the AP in June. "It's in my blood, and I'm going to do it as long as I can, but after that I want to be ready for the rest of life."
The residency program was a good idea for the team, Williams said, prices for a subraru legacy wagon but hard on him.
"It's a big sacrifice to leave home and leave your family," he said. "If you love the sport as much as we do, you'll do it. It's tough, but you've got to stick it out. There's a reward at the end."
Ohioans who have boxed in the Olympics include Ricardo Williams Jr., of Cincinnati, the 2000 Olympic silver medalist; flyweight Tim Austin of Cincinnati, who won the bronze medal in 1992; and Jerry Page of legacy switch networks Hilliard, legacy audio victoria who won the light-welterweight gold medal in 1984.
After winning more than 200 amateur fights, Pryor thought he was bound for the 1976 Olympics. But Howard Davis Jr. was chosen in the lightweight division, and Pryor was designated an alternate.
Davis won the Gold Medal and was named outstanding boxer at the games in Montreal.
"I would have felt bad if he did not win," Pryor said. "This guy was good."
Sugar Ray Leonard and Leon Spinks were also on that team, which won five gold medals, one silver and a bronze. They returned to big-money contracts.
Pryor turned pro with little fanfare, and worked for Davis as a sparring partner, before going on to join Ohio's successful line of pro boxers.
A street in Cincinnati is named for Ezzard Charles, who was heavyweight champ in the late '40s and was the only fighter to last 15 rounds with Rocky Marciano.
The colorful Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini was from Youngstown, as is unbeaten current middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Buster Douglas, who took the heavyweight title from Mike Tyson in 1990, was from Columbus. subaru legacy gt knock sensor location Tony Tubbs, who won the WBA heavyweight title in 1985, was from Cincinnati.
And then there's Pryor, whose 1982 fight with Alexis Arguello still is rerun as one of the classic boxing matches of all time.
At 53, Pryor says he's been clean for 16 years, after a nine-year cocaine addiction that drained the millions he made as a pro and led him into scrapes with the law.
The wild young fighter who charged out of his corner to pummel opponents cultural legacy of west africa is soft-spoken now. He is an associate pastor at bhhs legacy foundation New Friendship Baptist Church, and sometimes takes to the pulpit.
Pryor lives modestly on his appearance fees, promotions and residuals from use of his persona on Play Station games and boxing cards.
"I'm living the good life," legacy village Pryor legacy modernization said. "I used to be mad; I'm not mad any more. I went through some ups and downs. I'm lucky to be here."
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On the Net:
Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor: http://www.hawktime.com
U.S. Olympic Committee: http://www.usolympicteam.com
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