Warren wins World gold

CHICAGO - Flyweight Rau' shee Warren and middleweight Demetrius Andrade became the first Americans to win gold medals at the World Boxing Championships in eight years with convincing victories in the finals Saturday.

Warren beat Thailand's Somjit Jongjohor 13-9 despite having two front teeth knocked out.

Then he sounded a warning for the Beijing Olympics next summer.

"You better watch out. The young American is coming," Warren said.

Andrade gave the Americans their second gold when his bout with Thailand's Non Boonjumnong was stopped in the second round due to an injury.

"This is the most important thing in my life," Andrade said.

Andrade, Warren and three other U.S. boxers have earned trips to Beijing, and they were constantly serenaded with "USA! USA!" chants as they delivered the first gold at the world championships since the Americans captured four in 1999.

Warren didn't disappoint the crowd.

He led 5-1 and stayed on the attack even after two incisors got knocked out midway through the second round. He sent his opponent to the canvas with a right hook in the closing seconds.

Days before the event began, Warren guaranteed he would make the finals. Along the way, he qualified for his second consecutive Olympics.

Warren was 17 and the youngest member of the 2004 boxing team when he traveled to Athens. He was also a little lighter and less polished.

Now fighting at 112 pounds, Warren competed at 106 in Athens. A two-time national champion, he took the bronze at the 2005 world championships.

Nothing could stop him this time.

"I'm the world champion now," he said. "I can say that I'm No. 1 in the world, not No. 3. I'm No. 1."

Warren seemed to ease off in the final two rounds of his bout with Jongjohor, doing just enough to stay in control. And when it was over, he raised both arms, jogged around the ring and hugged his corner. Then, the U.S. flag was draped around his shoulders.

Warren gave himself "a B-plus" for Friday's fight, but Saturday?

"A-plus," he said.

Warren planned to put the medal around the neck of his mom, Paulette Warren Gordon. She couldn't wait, but her eyes are on a bigger prize. Warren's mother wore a T-shirt with a picture of her son posing in the backyard with 15 championship belts and the slogan: "If you want me, come get me."

"That gold is a piece of cake," she said, referring to the Olympic version. "I'm just waiting to put it on a plate."