Adam Willett, 21 years old, from Bellport and Leon Green from Shirley, were the least experienced boxers in the tournament, yet defeated national and international champions on route to obtaining the silver and bronze medals. They were considered the premiere boxers of the tournament. "It is beyond belief that any boxer can walk into this tournament and do what these two boxers accomplished with the minimum experience and number of bouts they had," said their coach Mike Murphy, who helped them raise the funds from local organizations (Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus of Mastic, & Coca-Cola) as well as his own construction company to send these boxers to this international tournament and prepare them for the 2004 Olympic Trials.
Willett, 178-lb. Light-heavyweight, destroyed his first opponent from Arkansas with a TKO in the 3rd round. He dominated his next opponent towards a unanimous decision in the quarter finals, beat a United States 7th ranked boxer in the semi-finals with another outstanding unanimous decision, and drew the attention of the 2004 Olympic Coach in attendance, Emmanual Setward (also the trainer for heavyweight champion & HBO contender Lennox Lewis). Adam went on to lose a very close split-decision to the Canadian national champion. (The majority of the 2000+ fans felt Adam, with only 18 fights experience, actually defeated the Canadian national champion, who had over 230 fights experience.)
"To achieve what he did, in his first national/international tournament, with a minimum amount of experience (only 2 years and less than 18 bouts), is nothing short of a miracle," said his coach and ex-professional fighter, Murphy, who accompanied his boxers to the Kansas City tournament on a shoe string and a prayer, considering the club just barely afforded the trip. "I guess what we accomplished here was why the other U.S. coaches called us the 'miracle workers' from Long Island, New York."
Green, 141-lb. Junior welterweight, shocked the amateur boxing world by defeating the Kakastan - Russian national champion in his quarter final bout of the tournament raising the enormous crowd's thunderous applause with the chant of "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!""The Russians and the Cubans have been dominating the world in amateur boxing for the last 25 years," said Mur-phy. "Leon's lack of exposure and experience in only his first national/international tournament just accented the incredible accomplishment this was. The impossible! Nothing short of a Miracle!"
Leon went to the semi-finals to lose a controversial split-decision to the Cuban via Domi-nican Republic.
The Veteran's Memorial and Atlantic Boxing Club, both funded by Murphy, are looking for donations to continue these kids dreams to reach the Olympics by attending the last major qualifying tournament for the Olympic trials in Toledo, Ohio at the end of the month. Please call 631-331-7111 if you can help make a dream come true, or send donations to the Vets Memorial or Atlantic Boxing Club at 78 McGraw St., Shirley, NY, 11950.