COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The toughest part for Jacob Hudson was negotiating the three wooden steps leading into the ring.

Hudson, a two-time U.S. boxing champion from Augusta, Ga., secured a spot in the U.S. Olympic trials Friday night, defeating Anthony Mora of Thornton, 20-9 in the semifinals of the U.S. Championships.

The 132-pound bout began inauspiciously for Hudson as he tripped climbing the stairs into the ring.

"Anxious," Hudson said. "I was ready to get in there."

Despite giving up five inches to the 6-foot Mora, Hudson was never in trouble, taking an aggressive approach as Mora backpedaled.

"I work on things with tall people," Hudson said. "I've never had trouble with tall people."

Hudson can claim his third straight U.S. championship Saturday night with a victory over Rock Allen of Philadelphia, who stopped Anthony Avila of Modesto, Calif., in the fourth round.

While Hudson tried to extend his reign, virtual unknown Matt Godfrey of Providence, R.I., earned a spot in next month's Olympic trials by defeating Eric Kelly 14-13 in the 165-pound weight class.

"Coming in here, I never thought I'd be at the point I am now," said Godfrey, who will turn 19 Sunday. "I was thinking so negative. I'd always draw the No. 1 seed or lose by one point. I was telling myself, 'I've got to get over this hump.'"

Godfrey will face tournament favorite Arthur Palac of Hamtramck, Mich., a winner on points over Brad Austin of Johnson City, Tenn. Palac has defeated Godfrey twice previously.

"It's not over yet," Godfrey said. "I still have to fight the No. 1 seed (Friday). I have to prove myself again."

After his bout, Godfrey cheered on teammate Jason Estrada, who beat Mike Kirkman of Acoma, N.M., 13-8 in the 201-pound heavyweight division. Estrada, will face Michael Bennett in the final. Bennett won an entertaining bout against fellow Chicago native Anthony Stewart, 16-12.

It was a good night for brothers LeChaunce Shepard and Teaunce Shepard of Milwaukee. The elder LeChaunce, fighting in the 147-pound division, had stopped his first two opponents in the first round, but settled for a 12-8 victory over Joey Ruelas of Phoenix.

"I had some nerves going in," said LeChaunce, who will face Cliff Richard, the lone marine left in the tournament. "I was tighter than I was in my previous bouts."

Fighting in the 125-pound division, Teaunce Shepard moved one step closer to his first U.S. championship in seven tries with a 7-5 victory over Steven Luevano of LaPuente, Calif.

Teaunce Shepard will face Ricardo Juarez of Houston in the finals. Juarez, the top-ranked U.S. featherweight, won in a walkover against Cornelius Lock, who was unable to fight after spraining a wrist in the quarterfinals.

In other matches of note, Iga Flapping Eagle of Boise, Idaho, advanced to the superheavyweight final with a 9-5 decision over Tuese Ah-kiong. Flapping Eagle, the lone Native American left in the tournament, will take on three-time U.S. Championship silver medalist T.J. Wilson.

Kelly Pavlik, 17, of Youngstown, Ohio, who upset top-ranked Darnell Wilson earlier in the week, lost to Sechew Powell of Brooklyn, N.Y., 22-12, in the 156-pound division.

Powell will face Anthony Hanshaw of Mansfield, Ohio. Hanshaw, who had already earned a spot in the trials, stopped Francisco Diaz of Kansas City, Mo., 1:14 into the third round.