 In 2006 he became US champion and won the National Golden Gloves, in 2007 he repeated both wins.In Brazil at the PanAm games 2007 he reached the final by beating two opponents who had beaten him earlier the same year – Cuba's Yampier Hernandez in the quarterfinals and Dominican Wilton Mendez in the semifinals and also bested Venezuelan Kevin Betancourt, ranked 58th in the world for the gold medal.He won the US Olympic trials in August 2007.