Staten Island boxer Marcus Browne faces his toughest challenge at Olympic Trials

Staten Island Advance photos/Bill LyonsMarcus Browne has no illusions about the competition he'll face at the Olympic Trails: "Of course they're all good; they have to be or else they wouldn't be here. But at the end of the day, if I stay strong mentally, I can beat them."

Marcus Browne often waits for his window of opportunity in a fight, watching to see if his opponent drops his guard ever so slightly, then capitalizing on that lapse with a thunderous right hand.

The 20-year-old from Clifton's patience springs from a confidence that he carries into the ring -- a belief that he's better than his opponent.
Browne's formula has helped carry him to three Daily News Golden Gloves titles and the 2010 Police Athletic League national championship, a win that punched his ticket for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Mobile, Ala.
And it will be there in Mobile where Browne will have to practice a balancing act: Maintain that confidence, but don't wait for your chance -- because, against this talent pool, it might not come.
"In this tournament, you can't afford to be a counter-puncher," said Browne, who has already faced a few of the seven other contenders in the light-heavyweight division at different events over the years. "You need to get off first, first, first. You can't let time go by before you act ... those are precious seconds.
"It's not about power; it's about strategy, skill and staying busy."

Staten Island boxer Marcus Browne prepares for junior olympics Three-time golden glove champion and Clifton resident heading to Mobile, Alabama to compete in the junior olympics tournament Watch video

Browne has defeated boxers with a wide variety of styles. And in the PAL tourney, he also showed the endurance to win many fights in a short amount of calendar time. He'll have to do both at the trials -- which will be contested from July 31-Aug. 6 -- and against stiffer competition.
"This is the elite in the country; with the Golden Gloves, Marcus knew he was going to win," said Gary Stark Sr., Browne's trainer since he was 13. "This is a different situation. You have to come with your 'A' game."
And that game may be adjusted for the Olympic Trials.
POINTS OR POWER?
"Marcus is a power puncher," noted Pat Russo, the director of the Atlas Cops 'N Kids Boxing Club of which Browne is a member. "But at the trials, you have to score points. He needs to work on his defense and use a stick-and-move attack. The name of the game is to hit and not get hit."
Renowned boxing trainer and TV analyst Teddy Atlas knows better than anyone what it takes to win at elite levels. And the Island native and resident believes that Browne -- whom he has consulted with at the Atlas Cops 'N Kids gym in the Park Hill apartments -- has what it takes to succeed.
"He's in real good shape ... he has the hand speed, power and has very good size," said Atlas of the 6-foot-2½, 178-pounder. "But he has to be able to use his reach. He has very good length; he has that big wingspan. He's got to learn how to fight that outside game. That's how some guys catch the eyes of the judges. They'll build up points throwing their jab and then they'll go into a prevent defense, and then it's hard to catch up."

Browne works out on the speedbag.

But Stark doesn't want Browne to completely become a finesse fighter.
"Marcus can bring that jab, and he'll use it as a prime weapon. But he has a lot of tools," said Stark, who also trained his son, Gary Stark Jr., to four Golden Gloves titles en route to a pro career. "I stress his power. He can box, but sometimes Marcus runs around too much. If he can get some of those guys out of there early, I'd tell him to go right through them.
"He's got to let his hands go, he's got to throw punches five at a time."

BRAINS AND BRAWN?
Over the last several weeks, Stark has traversed the tri-state area looking for the most challenging sparring partners. It's all part of the learning process for Browne, who has impressed all those around him with his mental approach.
"Marcus is like a sponge," Atlas said, "he picks up immediately what you tell him and incorporates it."
That includes recently delving into resistance weight training with Dr. Arthur Patterson of West Brighton, who preaches a slow-motion style of lifting that exhausts muscles then builds them back up.
"Marcus is a young man who truly has vision beyond his years," said Dr. Patterson, a neurologist and chiropractor. "He has a quiet resolve and maturity."
"I'm just as proud of him for what he's done outside the ring as what he's done inside," said Atlas, who teamed with Browne earlier this month to help bring attention to blood drives held at the borough's police precinct houses.
But when it comes to Browne's progress inside the ropes, Stark is pleased.
"He's matured a lot," the trainer said. "He understands the game. He's now starting to realize what he can do."
If he is successful in Mobile, Browne will join a select list of Staten Island Olympians that includes Abel Kiviat, Bill Jankunis, Ray Rudolph, Dominick Minicucci and Robert Pipkins.
"I've had my eye on the 2012 Olympics for a while," said Browne, with a smile that lights up the room. "This is the biggest thing that's happened to me. But I think my family's more excited than I am."

LONDON BOUND?
The field in Mobile is scheduled to include U.S. Army Spc. Jeffrey Spencer, the 29-year-old Armed Forces national champion; 18-year-old Jerry Odom, the USA Boxing National Championship silver medalist, who lost to Browne in the PAL final; 19-year-old Caleb Plant, the Golden Gloves national champ; and Sean Bettencourt, 22, who at 6-4 is the only fighter in the division taller than Browne.
"He's in the right place at the right time. There's no one who's really over his head," Stark assessed. "Marcus has the perfect opportunity, but he has to dig down deep and beat these guys."
So, realistically, what are Browne's chances?
"I think he has a fantastic shot," said Russo. "But he'll be fighting the best in the country. I just hope he has a good week."
"It's not going to be a walk in the park, but he has a good chance. I think he's up to it," added Atlas. "He's motivated, he's prepared. He's a smart kid, a good kid, who wants to make something of himself and understands the opportunity in front of him."
Should Browne win in Mobile, he would be guaranteed the opportunity to walk out with the rest of the U.S. Olympic team in London. But in order to compete for a medal at the Summer Games, Browne needs to finish in the top eight in his weight class at the 2011 AIBA Men's World Championships Sept. 22-Oct. 10 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Going on American boxing's track record, that is usually a mere formality. Browne concurs.
"That won't be a problem," he said of qualifying in Azerbaijan. "I'm only focused on winning here."
Browne, who has been training six days a week including 2½ hours in the gym daily, noted "I've had to sacrifice a lot of things ... like having no type of fun."
But he doesn't have any regrets, especially not with July 31 so close.
"Of course they're all good; they have to be or else they wouldn't be here," said Browne of his competition. "But at the end of the day, if I stay strong mentally, I can beat them.
"I'm confident. I'm not worried. I'm ready to rock and roll."