Andrew Tabiti’s next step: bring home gold from Gloves

Andrew Tabiti needs to quickly make an impression on the powers at USA Boxing if he is serious about participating in next year's Olympics.

The 21-year-old Las Vegan, who fights out of Elite Boxing, can put himself in the mix for the U.S. Olympic trials in late July if he can win the National Golden Gloves Tournament, which begins Monday in Indianapolis. Tabiti, who fights at 201 pounds, reached the semifinals last year before losing to eventual champion Steve Geffrard.

The winners of the Golden Gloves and the USA Boxing championships in June in Colorado Springs, Colo., will qualify for the Olympic trials, whose site has not been determined.

"I'm totally prepared," said Tabiti, who has been training twice daily. "My head is right. I know how to pace myself. I know how everyone fights, their styles. I've been training five-minute rounds to make sure I'm in shape. I know what to expect with the atmosphere, so I shouldn't be nervous.

"Ultimately, I want to go pro, but my goal is to be in the Olympics next year."

Gil Martinez, who coaches Tabiti, said winning the gold in Indianapolis would improve Tabiti's exposure. He's not among the six 201-pound fighters profiled on USA Boxing's website (usaboxing.org).

"We have to win a national tournament to get him in that bracket," Martinez said. "In my opinion, he's the top 201-pound fighter in the country. He knows he belongs at this level and he can beat anybody. But he has to prove it in the ring, and that's what the (Olympic) coaches are looking for."

Tabiti, who weighs 197, said he feels stronger in the ring.

"I've got more power behind my punches," he said. "My legs are stronger, and the weight work I've been doing in the mornings has really helped."

Martinez will not be in Indianapolis with his fighter, but he said Tabiti will be in good hands. Coaches from Team Washington, which won the West regional last month, will handle Tabiti this week.

"He's a mature kid," Martinez said. "He knows what he has to do. Once he's in the ring, it's just him and the other guy. I expect him to bring back the gold."

Tabiti is among four Nevada fighters in the Golden Gloves nationals. He is joined by Las Vegas heavyweight Michael Hunter, who qualified in the Rocky Mountain regional and has been living and training in Colorado Springs, and the Vasquez brothers from Reno -- Santos (108 pounds) and Oscar (114).

■ MANDALAY CARD -- The Top Rank card May 6 at Mandalay Bay is filling up, with Diego Magdaleno, the unbeaten Las Vegas super featherweight and current NABO champ, set to headline on ESPN2.

Magdaleno (18-0, six knockouts) will face Gilberto Sanchez Leon (28-9-2) in the 10-round main event. Also scheduled are Bernabe Concepcion, who will fight Juan Carlos Martinez in an eight-round featherweight bout, and light heavyweight Mike Lee (4-0, 3 KOs), who will meet Gilbert Gostelum in a four-rounder.

■ PACQUIAO BELTS IT OUT -- Even with a hectic schedule full of boxing and politics, Manny Pacquiao has managed to find time to indulge in one of his favorite pastimes: singing.

Pacquiao and Dan Hill collaborated to record a duet of Hill's 1977 hit "Sometimes When We Touch." The recording, made in October while Pacquiao was training for his fight against Antonio Margarito, will be released Thursday on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Pacquiao will fight welterweight Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.