They know they are so close, they are going to give all they can, and then some,'' said Al Mitchell, U.S. Olympic boxing coach. ``I've seen them fight so hard and want it so bad, they're actually crying while they're fighting. It's that intense.''

``The kids are going to be fighting with all their heart.

Although other Olympic teams - both American and foreign - are training in the Augusta area, this week's Box-offs is the only pre-Olympic trial to be held in the Garden City.

``This is as close to the Olympics that you're going to get without going to Atlanta,'' said Tommy Boyles, Augusta-Richmond County recreation director and one of the Box-off organizers.

For most of the 24 boxers, Wednesday was their last chance to get in a serious workout before the Box-offs. Twelve boxers at a time piled into vans and spent 90 minutes shadow boxing, punching bags and dancing about the rings with their coaches at the Augusta Boxing Club.

Organizers were careful to keep opponents separated during the workouts; while one opponent was at the gym, the other stayed at the hotel.

``It's just easier to handle that way, and, they (the boxers) like to train without the other guy watching them,'' said Kurt Stenerson, director of communications for USA Boxing.

Augusta Boxing Club Coach Tom Moraetes put it more bluntly.

``When you're a boxer, you don't want to know anything about the guy, his family, his school. You watch tapes and you get to know his boxing style, but that's it. You don't have anything to do with someone you're about to get into the ring with,'' Mr. Moraetes said.

The boxers say it's nothing personal.

``It's a way to get focused. We'll say `Hi' to each other if we pass each other in the hallway, but there's just not a lot of contact. It helps keep you focused,'' said 18-year-old Jaunquin Gallardo, who will be fighting 22-year-old Albert Guardado in the first fight of the night.

As light flyweights - 106 pounds maximum - the two say they are used to starting off tournaments.