2015 WSB and World Championships Team Trial, December 1-5 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Pathway to the Podium Begins at the

2015 WSB and World Championships Team Trial,

December 1-5 in Chattanooga, Tennessee

(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Top male boxers across the United States are dreaming of Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro and the pathway to the podium is now set for USA Boxing’s elite men. The journey to the 2016 Olympic Games will begin at the 2015 WSB and World Championships Team Trial, December 1-5 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The national tournament will determine the 2015 World Series of Boxing squad and 2015 World Championships team, both of which will serve as international qualifying elements for 2016 Olympic Games men’s boxing competition.

“Our international federation, AIBA, has laid out a new Olympic Games qualifying process and the 2015 WSB and World Championships Team Trial will mark the beginning of the journey to Rio for our elite men,” said USA Boxing Executive Director Mike Martino. “The stakes will be extremely high at this first tournament and we are looking forward to an exciting week of boxing from many of our top Olympic hopefuls in Chattanooga.”

USA Boxing is returning to Chattanooga for the first time since an international duel in the scenic city in 2008. Chattanooga native and 2008 Olympic Team Manager Joe Smith brought the event to his hometown and will serve as the 2015 WSB and World Championships Team Trial Tournament Director.

“The Chattanooga Metropolitan YMCA and the YCAP boxing club are thrilled and honored to be chosen to host the 2015 USA Boxing WSB and World Championship Team Trial,” Smith said. “Chattanooga will roll out the red carpet to the best boxers in America and make this a memorable event for the athletes, coaches, and officials.”

The tournament will feature many of the United States’ top male boxers, including multiple national champions who’ve been representing the United States internationally for the past two years. Athlete registration began on Thursday and will run through November 21 with the final athlete roster being announced on Monday, November 24.

Event competition will start on Monday, December 1 at the Chattanooga Convention Center and run through Friday, December 5. Preliminary competition is expected to take place from December 1-3 with semifinal action on December 4 and the final round bouts on December 5 in all 10 men’s weight divisions.

Scenic Showdown tickets are on sale now via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scenic-city-showdown-usa-boxings-2015-national-team-trials-tickets-13753558263 and can also be purchased at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Tickets for the first four days of competition are priced at only $10 with final round seats starting at $20.

USA Boxing announced the full Olympic selection procedures for male athletes on October 23, 2014 and they are available on USA Boxing’s website at www.usaboxing.org.

USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV