Dead bombing suspect was Golden Gloves boxer

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the winners in the Lowell Sun Charities Golden Gloves Tournament in 2010, is shown in the back row, second from right. The winners were: Front, from left, Allen Beeman, Toka Kahn Cleary, Luis Rosa, Liz Leddy, Gabriel Duluc; Back row, Coach Art Ramalho, Nick Delomba, Ronald Ellis, Sean Bettencourt, Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Julian Pollard. (By Julia Malakie, The Lowell Sun)

LOWELL, Mass. The Boston Marathon suspect who died in a gunfight early Friday morning is a Lowell Golden Gloves boxer who told The Sun in 2004, "I like the USA," after winning his first fight here.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev grew up in Grozny, Chechnya, the capital city of the Chechen Republic. Much of Grozny was destroyed during the Russia Chechen conflict, and Tsarnaev and his family moved to the United States in 2003 in hopes of starting a new life, according to a Sun article from January 2004.

Tsarnaev fought in the Lowell Sun Charities Golden Gloves Tournament in 2010 in the 178 pound novice class and won his fight.

"I wanted to fight in the Gloves to see how I would do," Tsarnaev told The Sun that night. "So far, so good."

He also said: "I like the USA . America has a lot of jobs. That's something Russia doesn't have. You have a chance to make money here if you are willing to work." buy fake oakleys

Tsarnaev said his first love was music. He said he studied music at a school in Russia and played the piano and violin.

Tsarnaev later represented Team New England in the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in 2009 and 2010.

Tommy Lee, president of the South Boston Boxing League, said Tsarnaev came to his gym in 2010 and 2011. He wasn't a daily boxer, but still a "phenomenal athlete," Lee said."He had great hand speed, great hand eye coordination. Just everything you want in a boxer," Lee said. "He was very, very respectful, very courteous. He seemed like a very normal young man. There was no anger whatsoever."

Lee received a text Friday morning from one of the gym regulars, saying that Tsarnaev was the bomber and had died in a gunfight.

Lee said he responded with "haha." nike schuhe damen

"I thought he was joking. There was no way," Lee said. "Then I saw the most recent photograph, and my heart sunk."

Dr. Joseph Downes of Downes Chiropractic in Lowell presented Tsarnaev with a trophy at the Lowell tournament in 2010.

"I only got to meet him minutes here and there, but I recall him listening to his coach in the corner and doing what most fighters do," Downes said. "He would listen to his coaches and try to make himself better and more effective. nike schuhe billi

"When I heard, it was shocking because Lowell boxing helps them along in life," he added. "Unfortunately, some kids get left of center and get themselves in problems." buy replica oakleys