BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- After a month of consideration, USA Boxing named Bakersfield the site for the 2004 Men's Western Trials in February 2004, KERO 23 reported.

Members of USA Boxing visited "Fight Night" at Centennial Garden last month to inspect the environment and facilities.

The Western Trials will be open to boxers west of the Mississippi River and if the competitors win in Bakersfield, they advance to the Olympic Trials in Mississippi later in February.

Centennial Garden General Manager Jim Foss is excited to be part of the week-long event that leads up to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.