It is spring time again and that means it is the time of Golden Gloves boxing across the country. It all got started in late January for Buffalo Golden Gloves and will end with late April in New Mexico. This year, the national Golden Gloves will be in Nebraska in early May.
The tournament has a special place in my heart and I have been in it several years as a teenager. I use to live, breathe and sleep boxing as a youth. Our family, like many, in the Western Missouri and Kansas areas were travel to Kansas City so I could compete in the Kansas City Golden Gloves. This pilgrimage will be completed again for many on April 19-21.
The first one was hold back in 1923 but become much more developed in the early 1960’s. A young man named Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) rise in the professional boxing ranks so quickly put more attention on the Golden Gloves movement for fresh boxing talent. Most Americans boxers in the last few decades have came out of the ranks of the movement.
If you are wanting to know who will be the mover and shakers in the next few years on the PPV circuit, a great place to find them in at the regional Golden Gloves tournaments.
Where and when to box?
Many of the tournaments are a series of boxing shows at local gyms. What is included in this article are the finals for this or the actual tournament dates if it is a real meet like the Kansas City Golden Gloves. If you need more information, please call the contact number listed.
| Region | Location | Dates | Contact Person | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | Buffalo Riverworks | January 28 | Donald Patterson | 716-400-9697 |
| Pennsylvania | Royal Plaza | April 28 | Lola Cariello | 561-839-2369 |
| Washington DC | Rosecraft Raceway | February 17 | Robert Magruder | 301-919-4809 |
| New Jersey | True Warriors | April 20 | Daniel Doyle | 908-230-2510 |
| Chicago | Cicero Stadium | April 12-14 | Lawrence Roeske | N/A |
| Indiana | Tyndall Armory | April 26 | Vickie Elder | 765-644-1496 |
| Toledo | Believe Center | March 31 | Gene Campbell | N/A |
| Iowa | Val air ball room | March 30 | Donald Avant | 515-490-2760 |
| Omaha | Ralston Arena | March 31 | John Glatgakos | 402-208-5334 |
| Rocky Mountain | Salt Palace Convention Center | April 6 | Larry Fullmer | 801- 201-6723 |
| Mid South | North Little Rock | April 6 | Ray Rodgers | 501-225-7185 |
| Nebraska | Platt Duetsche Society | April 7 | Garry Thompson | 308-383-4136 |
| Wisconsin | Riverside Ballroom | April 7 | Angel Villarreal | 414-550-9028 |
| Minnesota | Uppercut Gym | April 7 | Lisa Bauch | 612-882-1964 |
| California | Hayward School | April 13 | Ron Orosco | N/A |
| New Mexico | Roy walker Center | April 13 | Bonita Martinez | 505-573-1330 |
| Detroit | Bert's Warehouse | April 13 | Ansel Stewart | 313-304-2575 |
| Michigan | DeltaPlex Arena | April 14 | David Packer | 616-308-6485 |
| Upper Midwest | St. Paul Armory | April 14 | Robert Brunette | 651-341-8256 |
| Kansas City | Memorial Hall | April 19 | Christopher Walden | 816-478-1818 |
| South Carolina | Meadowlake Park | April 18 | Andrew Stokes | 803-513-1455 |
| Tri-State | Ashland Armory | April 20 | Charles Hanshaw | 606-465-4638 |
| Cleveland | Brook Park Recreation | April 19 | Earl Jewell | 216-581-9285 |
| North Carolina | Annandale Boys Club | April 20 | Robert Magruder | 301-919-4809 |
| Midwest | Ralston Arena | April 21 | Steven Pelster | 402-657-3948 |
| Eastern Michigan | FWC Berston | April 21 | Jason Crutchfield | 810-955-9602 |
| Upper Midwest | Northern Lights | April 27 | Lisa Bauch | 612-882-1964 |
| Virginia | Norfolk Boxing Center | April 27 | Robert Magruder | 301-919-4809 |
| Colorado | Mountain View | April 28 | Bonita Martinez | 505-573-1330 |
| Nationals | Ralston Arena | Steven Pelster | 402-657-3948 |
What to do when traveling?
The first thing to do is get weighed in and then make sure you have a local dish for lunch. This normally should be high in starches. When in Kansas City (where I boxed), this normally means a nice plate of Kansas City barbecue. If in New York, it would be a nice New York style pizza. I always try to experience the local iconic food of the city I am visiting.
For Nationals in Omaha, They could be a trip to the Omaha Steaks restaurants or stopping by the little mom and pops diner that are the backbone of Nebraska’s small town culture. This will be a much better experience (and diet) that running to the local McDonalds.
Before or after the matches, a family could enjoy the cultural centers that many of these cities offer. It could be an Art Museum or visiting a Presidential library. Traveling for boxing events can also be educational to form better young men for society.
It is important to keep your mind off the tournament when you are not competing. Relaxing and doing something unrelated can help you perform at a higher level when you do step between the ropes.
This is why I would always have a platter of Kansas City Barbecue after weigh ins with my family. It was a time to enjoy some food and relax so my mind is fully alert when it is time to compete.