Air Force Academy

Oct. 1, 2002

The prelude to the Air Force-Navy fight between the yard markers Saturday at Falcon Stadium is ten bouts between Falcon and Midshipmen boxers Friday beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Cadet Gym upper boxing room.

"This is our first boxing competition of the season and I expect it to be a very competitive card," said Falcon boxing coach Eddie Weichers, Jr. "Navy is bringing an experience group while most of our boxers are seeing their first National Collegiate Boxing Association action."

The matchups feature six Falcons who fought in last year's Wing Open while Navy brings six boxers who fought in their Brigade Open including five 2002 Brigade champions.

Weichers believes the 155-pound bout between C1C Jake Hostetler and the Mids' Bobby Villanueva will be a "battle of titans."

"Both of these boxers have power and like to come straight ahead," said Weichers. Neither one will have trouble finding the other in the ring."

Weichers added that Weil's bout against C2C Clell Knight is another key matchup. Both are classic boxers, according to Weichers. Knight may hold a slight edge as he won a decision over Weil during last season's competition. Weil is the defending Brigade champ in the 164-pound division. Knight was a finalist in the 2002 Wing Open

Here is the complete boxing card (Navy boxers listed first): 128-lbs. - Aaron Burciaga (2002 Brigade champ) vs. Derrick Baker (2002 Wing Open finalist); 130-lb. - Adam Mallo (2002 Brigade champ) vs. John Durbin (2002 Wing Open finalist); 143-lb. - Mike Reel (2002 Brigade finalist) vs. Ryan Dorsey-Spitz (2002 Wing Open semifinalist); 155-lb. - Bobby Villanueva (2002 Brigade champ) vs. Jake Hostetler ((2002 Wing Open finalists); 164-lb.- Rick Weil (2002 Brigade champ) vs. Clell Knight (2002 Wing Open finalists); 171-lb. - Kevin O'Donnell (2002 Brigade finalist) vs. Dustin Long (2002 Wing Open quarterfinalist) ; 175-lb. - Agur Adams (2002 Brigade semifinalist) vs. Sean Mitchell (2002 Wing Open quarterfinalist); 194-lb. - Amir Shareef (2002 Brigade champ) vs. Chris Hart (2002 Wing Open finalist); 195-lb. - David Rainey (2002 Brigade finalist) vs. Ethan Sabin (2002 Wing Open finalist); Hvwt - Nehemiah Katz, Jr. (2002 Brigade finalist) vs. Brian Trumble (2002 Wing Open finalist).