AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. (AP) -- Marlen Esparza won the flyweight division in the first U.S. Olympic team trials for women's boxing on Saturday night, beating Tyrieshia Douglas 32-17 to advance to the world championships.
Esparza is a 22-year-old from Houston with six national championships in two weight classes. She moved up in weight two years ago to meet the 112-pound Olympic flyweight standard, but the change hasn't stopped her roll toward London.
Esparza stuck to a meticulous game plan, allowing the aggressive Douglas to tire out during each round before picking apart her defense with well-timed shots.
After claiming the trials title, Esparza still must finish in the top eight in her weight class at the world championships in China in May to earn a spot in the first Olympic women's boxing tournament in London.
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