Olympic Medalist Highlights Fight Card

Terrence Cauthen, bronze medalist boxer in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, hopes to take another professional step next week at the Coeur d’Alene Casino.

Cauthen, nicknamed Heat, is unbeaten in 13 fights as a junior welterweight. He will take on journeyman Wayne Boudreaux (25-12) in the main event of a six-bout card in the Casino’s House of Fury.

Cauthen, a 22-year-old southpaw from Philadelphia, is coming off a win by unanimous decision last November over Patrick Thorns. Cauthen is ranked No. 9 by the North American Boxing Federation and No. 22 by the World Boxing Council, matchmaker Moe Smith said Tuesday.

He is regarded as a superb boxer, without a great punch.

Another former U.S. Olympian fights in the co-feature of the March 4 card. Roshii Wells, 10-0-1 as a pro, will test Augustin Caballero (16-8-1) in an eight-round junior middleweight bout.

A third unbeaten young pro, Martin O’Malley (8-0) of Atlanta, is matched with Carlos Naverez of Denver.

Ron Cornell of Jerome, Idaho, is scheduled to return from an impressive professional debut here last month. Cornell was paired with John Valdez (5-4), but Valdez was scratched this week for family reasons. His dad suffered a heart attack recently in Salt Lake City, Smith said.

Cornell will fight an opponent to be announced. Last month, he butted heads with veteran Steve Hurley early in their scrap. Ignoring massive swelling over an eye, the left-handed Cornell pounded out a close but unanimous decision.

Bill Brown, who spars with veteran Spokane pro Frank Vassar, makes his pro debut against Rodney Moore of Denver.

James Gonzales is also part of the undercard, with an opponent to be announced, Smith said.

Tickets at $12.50, $25 and $50 are available at G&B outlets, including the Casino.

Elsewhere in boxing, heavyweight Oleg Maskaev is out of action with a back injury suffered when he knocked out Jeff Wooden early in their bout here last month. Maskaev is not scheduled to resume training until March, and is not scheduled to fight until May, a spokesman for Cedric Kushner fight promotions in New York said.

Another heavyweight who made short work of an opponent here in November, Corey Sanders, is also on the shelf. Sanders had recent eye surgery. He is expected to resume his career in mid-spring.

Stark wins again

Coeur d’Alene’s Lindsey Stark, 10, has won her age group for the third straight year at the state Elks Hoop Shoot free-throw contest.

Stark hit 15 of 25 free throws on Saturday in Idaho Falls to claim another title. In March, she will compete at regionals in Portland, where she’s been third the last two years.

CdA’s Jessica Smalley, 9, placed second in the 8-9 division at Idaho Falls. She made 17 of 25 shots from the 11-foot line. CdA’s Matthew Marceau, 10, took third in the 10-11 division. He made 18 of 25 from the regulation distance.

NIC reception today

A reception for the North Idaho College wrestling team will be held at noon today at Christianson Gym. The Cardinals, behind individual champions Shaun Williams and Curtis Owen, finished second at the NJCAA tournament last weekend.

The public is invited.