ON THE SIDELINES : Soviet Boxing Team Beats U.S.

ATLANTA —  With heavyweight challenger Evander Holyfield shouting pointers from the audience, Larry Dixon of San Diego edged former 139-pound world champion Igor Ruzhnikov of the Soviet Union in the USSR-USA Heavyweight Boxing Invitational Monday.

It featured the top six weight classes in amateur boxing.

The victory by Dixon, 21, America’s third-ranked amateur in the 147-pound class, was one of two 3-2 decisions on the 10-bout card. It pulled the USA team into a 3-3 tie, but the Soviets swept the next three fights and won the card 6-4.

After Jerry Lee Williams won a unanimous decision over Andrei Kiselev in the 165-pound opening bout, Vladimir Ereschenko evened the card with a 4-1 decision over Pat Byrd of Flint, Mich., in the 147-pound class. Viktor Akshonov then put the Soviets ahead with a 4-1 decision over Rodney Price of Elizabeth, N.J., in the 201-pound class.

When Evegni Sudakov floored Raymond Carger of Bartsdale, La., at 1:54 of their 201-pound bout, the referee awarded Sudakov a technical knockout.

Other decisions went to Alexander Lebziak over Mario Munoz of Denver, Colo., in the 156-pound class; Rostislav Zaulichny over Frank Savannah of Spring Lake, N.Y., in the 165-pound class; Sergei Kobozev over Eugene Gill of Flint, Mich., RSC, at 1:00 of the third round in the 178-pound class; and Eddie Donerlson of Camp Lejune, N.C., over Vladimir Belousov in the 201-pound class.