Reno, Nevada will host the United States men's Olympic boxing trials ©USA Boxing

Reno in Nevada will play host to the United States men’s Olympic boxing trials, where eight competitors will secure their place at Rio 2016, it has been announced.

The first four days of the competition will be held at the Silver Legacy Exposition Hall, with the finals scheduled to take place at the 7,000-seater Reno Events Center.

The full list of participants at the crucial event, which runs from December 7 to 13, are yet to be confirmed as Olympic hopefuls have a further chance of securing a spot at the qualifying tournament in October in Memphis, Tennessee.

Other boxers sealed their place at the competition either through the World Series of Boxing, the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) flagship international team event, or through the recent AIBA World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Around 80 athletes are expected to take part in the event in Nevada.

“USA Boxing is excited to work with Eldorado Resorts and the Carano family as well as the Reno-Sparks Visitors and Convention Authority to bring the highest level of Olympic-style boxing to northern Nevada,” USA Boxing executive director Mike Martino said.

“Reno has a rich and colourful history in Olympic-style boxing having hosted numerous international duel matches and the 1986 World Championships.

“The northern Nevada fans will witness the highest level of Olympic-style boxing and get the first peek at the athletes that will represent the United States in the 2016 Olympics.”

Current WBA middleweight champion and 2004 Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward competed at the Reno Events Center in his amateur career
Current WBA middleweight champion and 2004 Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward competed at the Reno Events Center in his amateur career ©Getty Images

The Olympic trials will see boxers compete in eight of the 10 weight categories and carries a double elimination format, which gives those participating a second chance of qualification should they lose their first round bout.

“The entire Reno community is thrilled to be hosting USA Boxing and the American Olympic hopefuls competing for a spot in Rio de Janeiro,” Shelli Fine, director of sports development for the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority.

“Elite athletic competition is something we are intimately familiar with and our extensive boxing history makes us perfect for the Olympic team trials for men’s boxing.”

The United States’ men’s boxers failed to win a medal of any colour at the London 2012 Olympic Games, though they had success in the women’s competition as Claressa Shields won the middleweight title.



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