ASSOCIATED PRESS Keola McKee landed a left to the head of Malcolm Franklin on his way to winning the 106 quarterfinal bout yesterday. CLICK FOR LARGE |
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Hawaii boxers reach U.S. semis
Hawaii boxers Keola McKee and Bruno Escalante advanced at the U.S. Boxing Championships at Colorado Springs, Colo., yesterday.
Escalante, a flyweight, beat Vincent Montoya of Cheyenne, Wyo., 19-11 to get to the quarterfinals and McKee won his 106-pound quarterfinal fight against Malcolm Franklin of Pomona, Calif., 24-18.
Escalante, of Waimanalo, will have the toughest road to the final. He meets two-time national champion and Olympian Rau'shee Warren of Cincinnati today. The winner will fight in the semifinals tomorrow with the finals on Friday.
McKee only has to beat Daniel Lozano of Bowling Green, Fla., today to reach Friday's final. Both Hawaii fighters have earned spots in the U.S. Olympic trials, but are trying to become the first U.S. Boxing champion from Hawaii since Brian Viloria in 1999.
Colleen Loo of Mililani had a bye to the finals and will fight Sadie Roberts for the women's 101-pound title and Anne Gibbon of Honolulu will take on Nikki Cane for the 189-pound crown.