COLORADO SPRINGS — Two-time Olympian Rau’shee Warren has been torn between cash and country since a demoralizing defeat at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Turning pro offered the prospects of a lucrative payday. Just as attractive, though, was attempting to earn a spot for the 2012 London Games, which would make Warren the first three-time Olympian in U.S. boxing history.
Dollars or distinction? Decisions, decisions. So when a chance came along to pursue both, Warren jumped on board.
Warren is one of a handful of U.S. boxers who have agreed to participate in the World Series of Boxing (WSB), a newly formed league set to start in November that allows fighters to compete in a modified pro setup and still maintain their Olympic eligibility.
Initiated by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), the team-oriented competition featuring five weight divisions is a way to bridge the gap between Olympic boxing and the pro ranks.
The series will definitely have a pro feel too: No headgear will be used, plus bouts will consist of five 3-minute rounds and scored according to the 10-point “must” system.
Even more, this is a paying gig. Maybe not as much as a pay-per-view title bout, but lucrative nonetheless, with salaries ranging from $25,000 to a ceiling of about $300,000 per year. A fighter can earn an extra $5,000 per win during the 12-match schedule. There will also be a playoff to crown a winner.
If that wasn’t incentive enough, the five individual weight champions from the inaugural season will earn berths in the Olympics.
“It’s great, because they’re saying boxing is losing a lot of fans,” Warren said.
Flyers sign winger Carcillo
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers signed Dan Carcillo to a one-year contract.
The 25-year-old winger had 22 points and 207 penalty minutes in 76 regular-season games for the Eastern Conference champion Flyers last season.
• St. Louis Blues defenseman Darryl Sydor retired after an 18-year career.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed right wing Jared Boll to a two-year contract.
Footnotes.
The No. 1 draft choice of the Washington Nationals, Bryce Harper, won the Golden Spikes Award, given to the country’s top amateur baseball player.
• Lloyd Carr, 64, who coached Michigan to the national football championship in 1997 and five Big Ten titles, is stepping down as the Wolverines’ associate athletic director Sept. 1.
• Purdue announced junior Robert Marve will be the No. 1 quarterback heading into fall practice.
• IndyCar driver Graham Rahal is reteaming with Newman/Haas Racing for six of the final eight IndyCar Series races, starting this weekend in Toronto.
• The NCAA announced Pittsburgh will host the 2013 Frozen Four, and Philadelphia will be the venue for the 2014 championship.
• Tina Thompson scored 24 points to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to an 87-71 WNBA win over the host Tulsa Shock.
The AP
