Hart advances at U.S. Boxing Trials

MOBILE, Ala. - Philadelphia's Jesse Hart decisioned Antonie Douglas, of Burke, Va., 14-8, in the 165-pound winners' bracket final at the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials last night.

It was the third straight win at the Trials for Hart and the first loss for Douglas, who will meet Luis Arias today.

Arias, of Milwaukee, advanced out of the challengers bracket by decisioning Edgar Alvarado Jr., of San Bernadino, Calif., 23-12. Hart will fight the Douglas-Arias winner tomorrow.

Earlier this year, Hart won the National Golden Gloves middleweight title and the USA Boxing lightweight national championship. The unseeded Hart, son of former boxer Eugene "Cyclone" Hart, dropped from the lightweight to middleweight division for the Trials.

In another bout last night, Cincinnati's Rau'shee Warren, who is trying to qualify for his third Olympic Team, decisioned Chicago's Shawn Simpson, 34-20, in the flyweight division.

Warren, 24, dominated the fight against the 17-year-old Simpson, using his experience to advance in the winner's bracket.

The Trial winners will represent the United States at the world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Sept. 22 to Oct. 10. The top 10 boxers in each weight class at worlds will qualify for the London Olympics.