Olympian Warren Wins Title On Medical DQ

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ Olympic flyweight Rau'shee Warren of Cincinnati complained this week that he hadn't really been tested at the national boxing championships. <br/><br/>He'll have

Friday, June 8th 2007, 1:50 pm

By: News On 6

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ Olympic flyweight Rau'shee Warren of Cincinnati complained this week that he hadn't really been tested at the national boxing championships.

He'll have to wait for the Olympic trials now because his opponent in Friday night's title bout received a medical disqualification for fractured ribs, leaving Warren with a walkover and his third straight 112-pound championship.

Aaron Alafa of Visalia, Calif, suffered the injury during his 19-13 semifinal win over John Franklin of Fort Carson, Colo., on Thursday.

Warren hopes to get more action at the Olympic trials in August. He is seeking to become the first American boxer to fight in two Olympic Games since Davey Lee Armstrong in 1972 and '76.

At 17, he was the youngest U.S. athlete at the Athens Games, where he lost to China's Zou Chiming 22-9 in his opening fight. Afterward, he decided to delay turning professional for a shot at Beijing in 2008.

Warren made quick work of both of his opponents at these championships.

Hawaiian Bruno Escalante's coach called things off early in the third round Wednesday with his outclassed fighter trailing 20-3, and on Thursday, Warren's fight with Timothy Ibarra of Brighton, Colo., was stopped in the second round with the score 14-1 and Ibarra's nose badly bloodied.

After that fight, Warren said he hadn't been truly tested yet.

``I can't say I really have. A lot of people come in here with heart and want to fight, but I end up being the bigger man because of my speed and fire and I'm quick,'' he said.

Alafa also qualified for the Olympic trials. The top eight finishers in each of 11 weight classes get a shot at making the U.S. team in August at a location yet to be determined.