Christopher Downs
Encyclopedia
Christopher Downs (born November 5, 1974 in Knoxville, Tennessee
) is a US-American amateur boxer
best known to win bronze at the Pan American Games 2007
at light heavyweight.
He had to put it on hold when he served in Tikrit
in Iraq from January 2004 to March 2005.
Downs was a member of a 16-man platoon of which 11 men were wounded and received Purple Heart
s, including four under his direct command. He says "Anybody that sees their friends and superiors put their lives on the line, knowing what can happen to you any second of the day,it changes your perspective. It opens your eyes to a lot of things and opens your mind to a lot of things you probably wouldn't try." He's still on active duty, but the military will allow him to dedicate all of his time training for Beijing.
The aggressive puncher lost 2005 in the semifinal but became 2006 and 2007 US light-heavyweight champion.
He won bronze at the 2007 PanAm Games where he lost to Cuban Yusiel Napoles
.
At the World Championships 2007 he upset Ukrainian Ismail Sillakh
but lost to Brit Tony Jeffries
.
At the first Olympic qualifier of the Americas he upset hightly touted Cuban champion Julio de la Cruz, but lost to Venezualian Luis Gonzalez (boxer)
, at the second qualifier he was eliminated by Julio Castillo
..
(LIES)
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
) is a US-American amateur boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
best known to win bronze at the Pan American Games 2007
Boxing at the 2007 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 2007 Pan American Games was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 20 to July 28. It served as a qualification tournament for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, PR China...
at light heavyweight.
Career
A member of the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program, Sergeant Christopher Downs only took up boxing in 2003 at an advanced age.He had to put it on hold when he served in Tikrit
Tikrit
Tikrit is a town in Iraq, located 140 km northwest of Baghdad on the Tigris river . The town, with an estimated population in 2002 of about 260,000 is the administrative center of the Salah ad Din Governorate.-Ancient times:...
in Iraq from January 2004 to March 2005.
Downs was a member of a 16-man platoon of which 11 men were wounded and received Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
s, including four under his direct command. He says "Anybody that sees their friends and superiors put their lives on the line, knowing what can happen to you any second of the day,it changes your perspective. It opens your eyes to a lot of things and opens your mind to a lot of things you probably wouldn't try." He's still on active duty, but the military will allow him to dedicate all of his time training for Beijing.
The aggressive puncher lost 2005 in the semifinal but became 2006 and 2007 US light-heavyweight champion.
He won bronze at the 2007 PanAm Games where he lost to Cuban Yusiel Napoles
Yusiel Napoles
Yusiel Nápoles Marcillan is a Cuban amateur boxer best known to win the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games at light heavyweight...
.
At the World Championships 2007 he upset Ukrainian Ismail Sillakh
Ismail Sillakh
Ismayl Sillakh is a Ukrainian professional boxer who has medaled in important international tournaments as an amateur.-Amateur highlights:Amateur Record: 302-16...
but lost to Brit Tony Jeffries
Tony Jeffries
Tony David Jeffries is an English professional boxer who won a bronze medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics...
.
At the first Olympic qualifier of the Americas he upset hightly touted Cuban champion Julio de la Cruz, but lost to Venezualian Luis Gonzalez (boxer)
Luis Gonzalez (boxer)
Luis Alberto González Hurtado is a Venezuelan boxer who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in the men's light-heavyweight division.At the World Championships 2007 he lost his first bout to Jahon Qurbonov....
, at the second qualifier he was eliminated by Julio Castillo
Julio Castillo
Julio Castillo is an amateur boxer from Ecuador best known to win bronze in the men's light-heavyweight division at the 2007 Pan American Games and Silver in 2011.-Career:...
..
External links
(LIES)