Amateur boxers who hope to reach the national championships – and perhaps earn a shot at the 2008 Olympics – will converge on Bend for the Oregon Senior Open State Tournament this Friday and Saturday.

Fights start at 6:30 each night at the Bend Armory.

Chaz Patka, a 132-pound fighter representing the Deschutes County Rocks boxing club in Bend, is scheduled to fight Virgil Green of Vancouver, Wash., on Friday and two-time state champion Ben Metz of Portland on Saturday.

In 2006, Patka won the Oregon State Championship and the Oregon Golden Gloves and placed second in the Region 12 Tournament. Patka, 23, must defeat Green on Friday to advance again to the Region 12 Tournament. The Region 12 event, which includes winners from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska, is set for March 24-25 in Medford.

Winners in Medford advance to the national tournament in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 11-16. The top eight boxers in each weight class at the nationals earn berths in the U.S. Olympic trials.

Other notable fighters competing in Bend this weekend include Troy Wohosky of Medford, ranked No. 2 in the nation at 119 pounds, and 152-pound former Junior Olympic national champion Willie Padilla of Rock Springs, Wyo.

Wohosky is scheduled to fight Duran Caferro of Helena, Mont., ranked No. 10 in the nation at 125 pounds. Padilla is slated to box Gavin Scott of Portland.

Also scheduled to be in attendance at the Bend Armory, but not competing, is the top-ranked super heavyweight in the nation, Mike Wilson of Medford.

The Oregon Senior Open, hosted by the Deschutes County Rocks, will include about eight to 10 bouts each night.

Richard Miller, coach of the Deschutes County Rocks and organizer of this week’s state championship tournament, encourages anyone with an interest in boxing, male or female, to train with the Rocks at the National Fitness Club in Bend. The Deschutes County Rocks boxing club is a nonprofit organization.

Oregon senior open state boxing tournament

What: Amateur boxing state championship for ages 17 to 34. Winners advance to regional tournament in Medford, March 24-25.

Where: Bend Armory, 875 S.W. Simpson Ave.

When: Friday and Saturday, doors open at 5:30 each night and fights start at 6:30.

Tickets: $12 for adults at the door or $10 in advance at Jake’s Diner, Printer Resources, National Fitness Club or El Rancho Grande restaurant in Bend; $7 for ages 7-18; children under 6 are free.

Contact: Richard Miller at 318-6211.