Marcus Browne: London exit ticket punched (EPA)
LONDON — There was no Olympic medal for Staten Island southpaw light heavyweight Marcus Browne. There wasn’t even a single victory.
Browne, leading 6-5 after two rounds, appeared as if he might squeak out a win, but his prediction of a medal fell way short when he boxed tentatively in the final round.
Australia’s Damien Hooper moved on after twice dazing the 21-year-old American in the third round and pulling out a 13-11 decision in a light-heavyweight preliminary — Team USA’s first boxing loss of the London Olympics.
“I was throwing a lot of punches and catching him and I could see it in his eyes and body language, he didn’t want to be there,’’ Hooper said.
Browne boasted he would leave London with “some hardware, preferably gold.”
Browne, who trains in one of Teddy Atlas’ Staten Island gyms, admitted he didn’t follow his adviser’s game plan. Atlas said in the days leading up to the Games that Browne had the physical skills to win a medal, but still lacked the mental maturity to be a lock. Browne is 21 and plans to turn pro.
“I didn’t listen to my corner,’’ Browne said. “My corner said take it to him. I did it for a little bit but not the whole round.’’
Hooper first gained traction in the first round after landing a lunging left to Browne’s head. Then he threw a combination in the middle of the ring, appearing to daze Browne as the referee stepped in for a standing-eight count. Browne said afterward he wasn’t hurt, but there was blood on his white towel after the fight.
The first two rounds were marred by more pushing than punching, each fighter going down once after being illegally shoved to the canvas. Browne did come out blazing, rocketing punches for the first 30 seconds before settling in.
“He got dirty a lot, trying to push and throw me around,’’ Browne said. “But no excuses. I lost.’’
In the furious third round, Hooper kept on the attack, landing another hard-hitting combination to the face, roughing up Browne on the ropes. At one juncture, Hooper toyed with Browne, waving him on. The Australian is considered one of the strongest fighters in the pool, but Browne said he wanted to fight the best early.
“It’s not a setback, it’s a learning experience,’’ Browne said.
Maybe Browne was distracted by Hooper’s T-shirt emblazoned with an Aboriginal flag. He has been warned by team officials he violated policy barring athletes from political statements and may face disciplinary action. Hooper is Aboriginal but will abide by the ruling in his next bout, saying yesterday he was “proud’’ of wearing the shirt.
Browne, who needed three wins to get to the medal round, will stay in London to cheer on his fellow U.S. boxers.