BREAKING News

06.28.11- Trotwood Boxer Pearson Wins National Title

Minutes after narrowly winning the U.S. National 165-pound boxing championship late Saturday night in Colorado Springs, Colo., Trotwood’s Chris Pearson motioned for his dad to enter the ring.

Pearson had the gold medal draped around his neck, but it didn’t stay there long.

“He gave it to me!” Milt Pearson said. “He called me into the ring and gave me his medal.”

It was Pearson’s first official act after outlasting friend and former sparring partner Edgar Alvarado Jr., of San Bernadino, Calif., by the three-round cumulative score of 11-10 and moving a step closer to representing the U.S. in the Olympic Games next summer in London.

“My dad’s been there from day one,” Pearson said in a telephone interview. “He teared up a little and gave me a hug and a kiss. He deserves this just as much as I do. He’s made the same sacrifices. I plan on doing the same thing in London.”

Saturday’s win assures Pearson of the top seed among middleweights at the Olympic trials in Mobile Ala., next month. World middleweight champ Andre Ward, a commentator on the fight card’s Web broadcast, said he thinks Pearson can medal at the Olympics.

And he’s not alone.

None other than U.S. national boxing coach Joe Zanders, who sat next to Milt Pearson during the bout, was positively giddy.

“If nothing goes wrong, that’s my Olympian right there,” Zanders told the elder Pearson. “I can take that kid to a gold medal.”

Zanders elaborated moments later on the phone with the Dayton Daily News.

“I was impressed,” the coach said. “Chris was in with a real tough opponent tonight and he did what he had to do. He put on a great show and I think he’ll get better. He was on top of his game. He knew he had to do something when it was time, and he pulled it out.”

Pearson, who had defeated three opponents to get this far in the tournament, held a 4-2 lead after the first round, but a desperate Alvarado unleashed several flurries in the second round to close the gap to 6-5 heading to the third.

“I knew I had to pick it up,” Pearson said. “I was letting it be close. I need to let my hands go a little more. Just stuff you realize at the end of the fight. You live and you learn.”

It was still anybody’s fight entering the final period, but Pearson ultimately prevailed with “crisper punches,” Ward told his audience.

So Pearson heads to the Olympic trials as the U.S. national champion in his weight class.

“Based on what I saw tonight, I think we can go a long way with him,” Zanders said. “I believe he has the talent to do quite well in international competition. Chris is at the top of the heap right now. He won the premier tournament in the country.”

Pearson stayed humble on Twitter, writing, “Giving God all the glory. Hard work pays off.” He is the No. 1 amateur middleweight in the world based on Saturday’s results, but he knows taking that for granted isn’t an option.

“I’m thankful,” he said. “But there’s a lot more to do.”

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