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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Shakur Stevenson started throwing punches shortly after he could walk. His grandfather began teaching him how to box at age 5, and he has barely lost since he won his first fight at 8.He dreams of world title belts and enough money to move his mother and eight younger siblings out of his beloved Newark, New Jersey. But first, Stevenson is in Rio de Janeiro to fulfill a dream that has consumed him since he went online and looked up the early history of his favorite boxer, Andre Ward.Most people say they want to become a world champion, but hes actually been obsessed and wanting to win a gold medal his entire boxing career, said his grandfather, Wali Moses. And now that hes reached the epitome of his career and a gold medal is right here, I think hes starting to roll toward it. The climb has been hard, but he wants it.Stevenson doesnt flinch from the weight on his shoulders heading into the Olympics as the brightest candidate to win the first mens gold medal in 12 years from once-proud USA Boxing.Ward was the last American man to claim the top prize with his brilliant performance in Athens, and the London mens team failed to win any medals at all for the nation that still leads the world in Olympic golds and total medals.With his speed, skill and unbeaten record in international competition, Stevenson has all the makings of an Olympic champion. A lucrative professional career awaits him in the fall, but the 19-year-old has spent his entire youth focused on the Olympic 123-pound tournament, which begins Aug. 10.I dont feel Ive really proved myself yet, Stevenson said. Id rather go to Rio first and win a gold medal, and then everybody can talk about me. When it comes down to it, it doesnt matter what anybody else thinks. I dont focus on everybody hyping me up. Its just me getting in that ring and fighting.Stevensons mother, Malikah, named him after Tupac Shakur, the rapper and social activist who died nine months before her first son was born. Stevenson mostly avoided trouble on Newarks tough streets, and his grandfathers steady influence kept him devoted to his sport.Moses vividly remembers the first time he saw his 2-year-old grandson throwing hands.We were watching Tuesday night fights, and he just started punching, Moses said with a laugh. Every time I took him to a tournament, even before he was old enough to fight, he would always say, `Pop-Pop, Im never going to lose. Hes always had that attitude. Hes just totally dedicated himself to the sport of boxing. Ever since then, each achievement, I knew something special was going on.Stevenson soon developed a compulsive habit of shadowboxing at every spare moment, although he acknowledges that it can be unnerving to the other people waiting in lines at cafeterias or airports.Stevenson has been capable of boxing 12 hard rounds since he was 10 years old, and he grew into a powerhouse under the tutelage of Moses and Kay Koroma, now the associate coach of the Olympic team. He even attracted the attention of Virgil Hill, the 1984 U.S. Olympian who became a light heavyweight world champion.Virg told him that hes the closest thing hes seen to Pernell Whitaker, Moses said of the 1984 gold medal-winning lightweight. That really gave him a boost, a vote of confidence. Since then, hes been winning everything. Hes put himself in position to be one of the top boxers in the world.Promoters know it, too. Stevenson has been surrounded by attention from people hoping to guide his career to stardom -- and some wouldnt have minded if he skipped the Olympics entirely.He couldnt stop when hes so close to his dream, although hes looking forward to ending the world travels necessary to compete for the International Boxing Association (AIBA).It makes me appreciate more of what Ive got, Stevenson said of his trips to Venezuela, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Ukraine and other out-of-the-way locales typically chosen for AIBA tournaments. I came from nothing, but I still had something still, because theres a lot of people out in the world that really got nothing. To be honest, I hate traveling, though. I wish we could just teleport to certain places.Stevenson realizes he fights in a brutal division of the Olympic-style sport. The bantamweight field in Rio includes Irish world champion Michael Conlan, London flyweight gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba and a lengthy list of tested international fighters.He realizes thats much the same situation faced 12 years ago by Ward, another serious American talent who charged through an Olympic field to win gold.I want to start my career how (Ward) started, Stevenson said. The main thing Im looking forward to after Rio is getting off the plane and going to Newark. Seeing all the people and how they feel about me coming back with a gold medal, I cant wait for that moment. Andrew Luck Jersey . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Marshall Faulk Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.officialindianapoliscoltspro.com/Bobby-okereke-colts-jersey/ . 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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- 49ers running back Carlos Hyde has cleared the concussion protocol and did not appear on the teams first injury report of the 2016 season Thursday.Hyde, who initially suffered the injury in the third preseason game against the Green Bay Packers and did not appear in the preseason finale, previously passed the baseline and exertion tests but still had to pass the simulated contact drill test as of Wednesday to get full clearance.Hyde passed that test and was back as a full participant in Thursdays practice after wearing a blue no-contact jersey Wednesday.Barring any setbacks, Hyde should be ready to go for the Niners regular-season opener Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams.Since the injury, San Francisco coach Chip Kelly and offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins maintained that Hyde was on track to be ready to play the Rams. Kelly said before Thursdays practice that he expects both teams to leean heavily on their running backs, with the Rams Todd Gurley likely a prominent part of their plan.ddddddddddddBoth teams are going to play to their strengths and both have two outstanding backs in Gurley and Hyde, Kelly said.Hyde said Wednesday he was hoping to have another big season debut on Monday Night Football after rushing for 168 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota to start the 2015 season. He pointed to some big runs in the preseason, Kellys up-tempo offense and an improved offensive line as reasons for his optimism.Even though its just been preseason, every game Ive had an explosive run, but Im definitely excited for the regular season to start and see the guys really rolling, us in there the whole game and taking over the game, Hyde said. Im really looking forward to that. ' ' '