Heavyweights Hunter, Tabiti win at Boxing Trials

Heavyweight Michael Hunter of Las Vegas passed what was considered his toughest test at the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials, defeating Steve Geffrard 19-12 in a second-round winners bracket bout Monday at Mobile, Ala.

It was also a good day for Las Vegas heavyweight Andrew Tabiti, who rebounded from a first-round loss to Hunter on Sunday to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament. Tabiti defeated James Shorter of Elkhart, Ind., 16-14 in a challengers bracket bout.

At super heavyweight, Brett Rather of Las Vegas lost his second-round winners bracket bout, 25-15 to Andrew Shepherd of Fort Carson, Colo.

Hunter, the 2011 Golden Gloves national champion at 201 pounds, and Geffrard, the 2010 USA Boxing Athlete of the Year, are considered the top boxers in the heavyweight division. After a 4-4 first round, Hunter took over and built a 14-9 lead, then kept Geffrard, of Boca Raton, Fla., at bay in the third round.

"The key was staying disciplined," Hunter said. "I kept my hands to myself, which allowed me to not get tied up by him and I was able to throw my punches. I got busier in the second round and turned it up a notch."

Hunter faces another test Wednesday against two-time national champion Jordan Shimmell of Hudsonville, Mich., in the winners bracket final.

Tabiti (1-1), who faces Joseph Williams of New York today in another elimination bout, was trailing Shorter 11-7 heading into the final round. Tabiti dominated the final three minutes, outpointing Shorter 9-3 in the round to stay alive.

Rather (1-1) fell behind early against Shepherd and was never able to catch up. He faces Laron Mitchell of San Francisco in an elimination bout today.

"(Shepherd) ran from me the entire fight," Rather said. "I was putting pressure on him and I couldn't believe I was down 8-2 after the first round. But I guess that happens in boxing sometimes."