August 21- The U.S. Olympic boxing team sent its fourth fighter into the quarterfinals on Saturday. Middleweight Andre Dirrell of Flint, Michigan defeated
Nabil Kassel of Algeria by a referee stoppage. Dirrell, who is one of the better medal hopefuls for the U.S. advances to face Cuban Yordani Despaigne Herrera on Wednesday.

It was a tough day for flyweight Ron Siler of Cincinnati, Ohio. Siler lost on points to Doniyorov Tulashboy of Uzbekistan 45-22. On Friday, Lightweight Vincente Escobedo of Woodland, California lost to Rovshan Huseynov of Azerbaijan 36-18. Escobedo was the fifth American to lose a bout in Athens.

Four Americans are in the quarterfinals. Heavyweight Devin Vargas of Toledo,Ohio is up next. Vargas will face Vikter Zuyev of Belarus on Sunday. Super Heavyweight Jason Estrada of Providence, Rhode Island will be in action on Monday against Cuban Michael Lopez Nunez in quarterfinal action. On Tuesday, Light Heavyweight Andre Ward of Oakland, California will face Evgeny Makarenko of Russia in quarterfinal action. Finally, on Wednesday Middleweight Andre Dirrell will be in quarterfinal action against Yordani Despaigne Herrera of Cuba.

8-21-2004