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Teen a complete fighter at Olympic Trials

Clearwater fighter advances in Houston.

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published August 21, 2007

Keith Thurman knows his reputation is that of a puncher, but sometimes that gets in the way of who he thinks he actually is: a solid, all-around puncher with a better jab and stauncher defense than most realize.

In his opening fight at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Monday, the 18-year-old Clearwater boxer showed all the skills that have made him the No. 3 rated fighter in the country.

In the first round, he controlled the ring. In the second, he boxed. In the third, he was devastating, needing just 31 seconds to knock out challenger Domonique Dolton of the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit.

"I felt good," Thurman said from Houston, where he is trying to become the second Tampa Bay fighter to make the U.S. Olympic team, joining 2000 Olympian Jeff Lacy.

Thurman said once he finished feeling out his opponent, whom he had never fought, he grew more comfortable and was ready to make his move.

"We were boxing in the first round, and I was 5-0 so I figured his coach would tell him to come at a me a little more in the second, but he really didn't," Thurman said. "He sat back and was staying on his jab. By the third round, I figured since I'm in such good shape, let's work a little harder and make this into a fight."

Leading 11-2 after two rounds, Thurman came out in the third to finish Dolton off. Less than a minute in, he wobbled him with a left hook and followed up with a right that grazed him then a left uppercut that dropped him.

Dolton survived the first assault, but not the second, as Thurman swarmed him and knocked him down again to end it.

"He hit him with a real good body shot in that first round, and I think the kid knew then and started going backward after that," trainer Ben Getty said. "Keith used his jab like no one says he can. I was real pleased with the way he boxed."

Thurman next will face 25-year-old Boyd Melson, the 2004 World Military Champion and a member of the Army's World Class Athlete Program. Melson beat Thurman in the 2005 U.S. Championships. After the two fought to a 22-22 tie, Melson was declared the winner by a 44-42 tiebreaker.

"I remember it was a crazy fight, high points," Thurman said. "I remember doing a good fight, but he's an awkward fighter. He's a worker. His style is good for amateur boxing scoring. But that was a long time ago. I believe I'm a step above that now."

Fast Facts:

U.S. Olympic Trials

Where: Houston.

Today: Clearwater's Keith Thurman, ranked No. 3, takes on No. 5 Boyd Melson in the noon winner's bracket semifinal.

Championship: Saturday (and possibly Sunday).

[Last modified August 20, 2007, 23:35:29]