Rau'Shee Warren - Flyweight on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team

Rau’Shee Warren is a left-handed flyweight boxer on the U.S. Olympic Team.

Born February 13, 1987, the Cincinnati native began training at age six, after tagging along with one of his older brothers to the gym. As he recalls:

“I knew then that was where I was supposed to be,... I knew I was supposed to box. After we left the gym that day, I started bugging my brother, asking: 'When can I go back? When can I go back?' "

Two years later, at age eight, he won his first fight. Rau’Shee kept improving, and at age fourteen he won the 95-lb. division of the PAL Championships.

He is now 5’ 3” and 112 pounds, and is coached by Mike Stafford.

Warren surprised many by earning a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. He commented, “Making the Olympics? I still can't believe it myself."

He was the youngest member of Team USA in Athens, but was eliminated in the first round against a Chinese competitor who would go on to win bronze.

Most boxers go professional after appearing in the Olympics, but Warren opted not to do so. In both 2006 and 2007 he was the U.S. flyweight champion.

Assuming he wins a qualifying tournament between now and September 2008, he will be the first U.S. boxer to compete in two Olympics since Davey Lee Armstrong did so in 1972 and 1976.

Sources:

http://15rounds.com/Olympics2004Boxing/Profile/Warren_080504.htm

http://www.usaboxing.org/86_1119.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9544-2004Aug17.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rau'shee_Warren