Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves of America is an organization that promotes annual competitions of amateur boxing in the United States, in which winners are awarded a belt and a ring, and the title of national champion. The organization currently owns 30 franchises. Hundreds of administrators, coaches, trainers and counselors participate, involving gyms and programs in local and regional tournaments throughout the United States and in a National Tournament of Champions each year. The Golden Gloves is a term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but can also represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional and state tournaments, such as the Chicago Golden Gloves, and the New York Golden Gloves, and the Rocky Mountain Golden Gloves.
History
, sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, came up with the idea of a citywide, Chicago amateur boxing tournament in 1923, and gained sponsorship from the Tribune in 1927. An annual tournament was held between Chicago and New York. In later years the idea was taken up by other cities, and a national tournament was held. Along with the New York Golden Gloves, the Chicago tournament was viewed as one of the two elite Golden Gloves Championships in the United States. Winners from selected states and regions headed to Chicago to meet in the Chicago Golden Gloves, while winners from other sections of the U.S. faced each other in the New York Golden Gloves tournaments. Champions from the Chicago tournament went on to face champions from the New York tournament in the Intercity Golden Gloves tournament, and thus the Intercity Golden Gloves served as the National Tournament of Champions held in the Square Garden Chicago and Chicago Stadium. The Intercity Golden Gloves tournament ran from 1928 to 1961, with the event being held at famed venues including the Chicago Coliseum.The National Golden Gloves contest began in 1962 and continues to be the most highly regarded amateur boxing tournament in the United States. It is sponsored and controlled by the Golden Gloves Association of America, Inc. Winners from 32 regional Golden Gloves competitions, coming up in regional teams of all weight classes, compete in the national competition, called the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. This is held once a year, and a new tournament site is selected annually.
The U.S. Golden Gloves program is currently organized on a territorial basis to give all sections of the country representation. All tournaments are planned, promoted and directed by the Golden Gloves Charities and within the limits of the amateur boxing code. Many amateur Golden Gloves participants went on to become professional boxers, including Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Barney Ross and Iran Barkley.
The Golden Gloves are open to all athletes aged 19–40. Citizens and non-citizens alike may compete in the tournament series. There is also a Silver Gloves tournament, for boxers aged 10 to 15.
Hierarchy
To compete nationally, a contender must pass through the following levels:- Sub-Franchise Golden Gloves
- *Franchise Golden Gloves
- **National Golden Gloves
United States franchises
- Buffalo Golden Gloves
- California Golden Gloves
- Chicago Golden Gloves
- Cincinnati Golden Gloves
- Cleveland Golden Gloves
- Colorado-New Mexico Golden Gloves
- Detroit Golden Gloves
- Florida Golden Gloves
- Hawaii Golden Gloves
- Indiana Golden Gloves
- Iowa Golden Gloves
- Kansas City Golden Gloves
- Kansas-Oklahoma Golden Gloves
- Michigan Golden Gloves
- Mid-South Golden Gloves
- Nevada Golden Gloves
- New England Golden Gloves
- New Jersey Golden Gloves
- New York Metro Golden Gloves
- Omaha Golden Gloves
- Pennsylvania Golden Gloves
- Rocky Mountain Golden Gloves
- Southeast Golden Gloves
- St. Louis Golden Gloves
- Texas Golden Gloves
- Toledo Golden Gloves
- Tri-State Golden Gloves
- Upper Midwest Golden Gloves
- Washington, D.C. Golden Gloves
- Wisconsin Golden Gloves
Around the world
Diamond Belt
In the past, certain amateur tournaments would award the victor with a Diamond Belt as recognition of their amateur championship status. These tournaments were sponsored by various organizations and newspapers in the United States, with The Philadelphia Inquirer being one of the more notable. Notable Diamond Belt winners include George Foreman, Bobby Chacon, Jimmy McCarter, Logan McElroy, and Lou Brooks.Steven ConwayBC Golden Gloves
The annual Golden Gloves tournament in British Columbia, Canada, has been a regular event since 1939.The first BC Golden Gloves champions were Alan Dunn, Bob Hickey, Travis Lepine, Eric Burnell, Henry Devine, Kenny Lindsay, Phil Vickery and Wayne Morris.