More than 100 Native American boxers from throughout the United States are expected to compete in the fourth annual Sports Warrior Games scheduled on two Denver campuses this week.
Also scheduled is the first wrestling competition, featuring about 60 competitors.
An abbreviated boxing session is scheduled at the Auraria Events Center gym at 11 a.m today, with finals in boxing and wrestling scheduled at 6 p.m. Saturday at the University of Denver’s Magness Arena.
“We added the wrestling this year so we’re going to have the two championships going on simultaneously,” said Maurice “Mo” Smith, the executive director of the Native American Sports Council.
Included among the boxers are three 2008 Olympic hopefuls who competed in the USA Boxing Championships in Colorado Springs last spring: Gerald Tsosie of Chinle, Ariz., at 125 pounds; Jackson Bussel of Klamath, Ore., at 141; and Kevin Ridingin of Mesa, Ariz., at 178.
Among the wrestlers is Jeff Brinks, a Marine who was a national championship qualifier at 211 pounds last year. The tournament will be contested over three days, including the finals in boxing and wrestling Saturday night.
Smith also has invited some local non-Native American boxers to participate in some show bouts.
The NASC is a nonprofit member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Boxing funded by The Daniels Fund and Everlast Sporting Goods.
“Our objectives are to increase and develop the existing talent pool of American Indian athletes to be more competitive on an international level,” Smith said.
