Wilson Getting Warmed Up Top-Ranked Light Middleweight Here In Advance Of Bout Vs. Irish

The advance element of the U.S. boxing team arrives today in preparation for Friday night’s dual match with Team Ireland in the Arena.

Darnell Wilson, America’s top-ranked light middleweight and at 31 the oldest U.S. competitor in the match, is scheduled to work out at 4 p.m. at Lilac City Boxing Club, 7313 East Sprague.

Wilson, who lost on points to eventual gold-medalist David Reid in a box-off for the 156-pound berth on the ‘96 U.S. Olympic team, takes on 20-year-old Frank O’Brien in one of 10 Olympic-style matches.

The Friday night fights start at 6 p.m. in the Arena.

The American team is run by Al Mitchell, who coached the ‘96 U.S. Olympic team. Mitchell heads the boxing program at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University.

He also continues to handle Reid’s career as a pro. Reid is unbeaten in eight starts as a junior middle-weight, a spokesman at USA Boxing in Colorado Springs said.

The bulk of the U.S. team reports Thursday. They’ll put on an exhibition and talk about goals Thursday at three middle schools - Chase (at 9 a.m.), Glover (9:30) and Salk (2:30 p.m.).

Team Ireland is not due until Friday.

The matchups: 119 pounds - Cornelius Lock, Detroit, vs. Bernard Dunne, Dublin; 125 - Jason Ingwaldson, Las Vegas, vs. Michael Hobbs, Wicklow, Ireland; 139 - Larry Mosley, Los Angeles, vs. Paul McCloskey, Derry, Ireland; 147 - LeChaunce Shepherd, Milwaukee, vs. Francis Barrett, Galway, Ireland.

147 pounds - Reggie Davis, Portland, vs. Robert Murray, Dublin; 147 - Sechew Powell, Brooklyn, vs. Sean Barrett, Cork, Ireland; 156 - Wilson, Lafayette, Ind.; vs. O’Brien, Kerry, Ireland; 165 - Randy Griffin, Philadelphia, vs. Kevin Walsh, Cork, Ireland; 178 - Anthony Stewart, Chicago, vs. Alo Kelly, Westmeath, Ireland, or Sean Collier, Weford, Ireland; Super heavyweight - T.J. Wilson, Mableton, Ga., vs. Tom Clare, Donegal, Ireland.

Mosley is the world’s third-ranked light welterweight. Stewart is the seventh-ranked amateur light-heavyweight in the world, according to USA Boxing.

Team Ireland, coached by Maurice Walsh, ranges in age from 17 to 26. Dunne and McCloskey are the 17-year-olds.

A women’s exhibition has been added to the card. Jennifer Price of Coeur d’Alene will take on Jaime Taylor of Wallace.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TICKETS Tickets for Friday’s U.S. vs. Ireland boxing card are $15, $25 and $50. They can be purchased at all G&B outlets.