BOXING : String Running Out for U.S.; 3 in Finals

HAVANA —  To characterize the U.S. Pan American boxing team as being “second string” might not be wholly accurate. Many U.S. fighters here are third string.

The United States began the tournament with 12 boxers. Six made it to the semifinals, meaning, for some, that they won one fight. As of Wednesday night, three U.S boxers are through to the finals: one on a bye, one by walkover and one, Patrice Brooks, actually beat another fighter. One lost Wednesday night--Ravea Springs in the 156-pound class--and two more will fight tonight.

It was the first fight of the tournament for Brooks, who advanced to the semifinals on a bye. He looked sharp Wednesday night and was awarded a decision over William Irwin of Canada.

According to Brooks, who fights in the 132-pound weight class, his motivation during the fight was to disprove the critics of the U.S. boxing team.

“My opinion is I think we are doing a whole lot better than most people, even reporters, were saying we would do,” Brooks said. “They were calling us the second team. I don’t think we are. I’m the team captain. I’ve been telling the guys to not listen to all that. They say we are the second team but to us, we’re No. 1. We lost six guys, but we also got six guys through.”

Brooks, clearly a positive thinker, fashioned a negative into a positive and used it to his advantage in his match against Irwin. Brooks had lost a decision to the Canadian earlier this year and didn’t show his jab. That seemingly new tactic appeared to puzzle Irwin, who attempted to wade inside throughout the match’s three rounds.

The right jab from the left-handed Brooks thwarted that effort and he successfully kept Irwin at bay.

“I changed my style, that’s what threw him,” Brooks, 20, said. “The jab got me through the fight.”

The second round had plenty of action, both fighters landing punches in flurries but then dancing away. Brooks was landing more scoring punches, but Irwin never quit. The Canadians in this tournament have been short on style but long on heart. And they can take a punch.

Irwin took more than he gave but landed a crisp right cross 30 seconds into the third round that snapped Brooks’ head back. Brooks appeared unfazed and, on the strength of his jab, kept Irwin at bay for the remainder of the fight.

Brooks won, 8-6, a score that surprised many.

“I thought I won by a wider margin,” Brooks said.

Brooks, of St. Louis, fought with a photograph of his son tied to his right boot. Brooks said that knowing that 2-year-old DeMarco is with him gives him a boost.

“I like to see him down there,” he said.

The other U.S. fighter could have used the help. Springs was overmatched against Juan Lemus of Cuba, who, on the subject of inspiration, had the partisan Cuban crowd behind him. Lemus won by decision overwhelmingly, 26-7.

Kid Chocolate Hall, named for a world champion Cuban fighter, is a steamy but delightful venue for boxing. With a raised ring in the center of the open-air arena, the seats rise up on four sides.

The noise level is typical of Havana’s venues. Drums beat, bells ring and everyone shouts or sings. While Cuban fans adopted a benign attitude when their fighters were not involved Wednesday night, they erupted when a Cuban stepped in the ring.

Such was the reception for Lemus, who, at 23, is already a veteran of the sport.

Springs’ fashion statement before the fight--American flags attached to his boots--did little to endear him to the fans. Or Lemus. The Cuban opened the fight with two hard rights to Springs’ head. Springs, of Cincinnati, got in one scoring punch, a jab, during the entire first round.

The second round began on a different note. The fighters stood toe to toe and slugged it out. This was not Springs’ plan. He paid for it with both a bloody nose and a standing eight count, courtesy of a booming left hook, with 1:28 left in the round.

Springs was game, however, and with 1:14 left in the third round his counterpunching drew a standing eight for Lemus.

Even with that moral victory, Springs was punched out. Lemus stalked the American for the rest of the fight. What had been jabs from Springs in the first two rounds became merely pawing in the third.

Lemus caught Springs on the ropes with eight seconds left and Springs drew another standing eight.

True to the team’s theme, Springs had a positive slant on the fight.

“It was a tough fight, a tough fight,” he said. “I started to pop my jab--boom, boom, boom--then my counterpunch. But he tried to outpunch me and I let him do that. I got into his kind of fight. I wanted to outbox him.

“I made a promise to myself that I would hang in with him. No one, not even my teammates thought I could make it. Everyone thought I would get knocked out. But for me it was a great fight and a great experience. I fought well.”

Satisfaction in defeat will have to suffice for the U.S. boxing team, for now.