Golden Gloves

Golden Gloves
In the United States a name Golden Gloves is given to annual competitions for amateur boxing. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition as well as can represent several other amateur tournaments.

The national contest is sponsored and controlled by the Golden Gloves Association of America, Inc.

Winners from regional competitions compete in the national competition, called the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. The Tournament of Champions is held once a year.

All tournaments are planned, promoted and directed by the Golden Gloves Charities. Paul Gallico, sports editor of the New York Daily News had conducted an amateur boxing tournament in 1927. Capt. Joseph had suggested its name as ?olden Gloves?.

The Chicago Tribune, which also owned the New York Daily News, then announced it would conduct an ?olden Gloves? tournament the following spring.

Arch Ward and Don Maxwell of the Tribune suggested to Gallico to have the New York Golden Gloves Champions meet the Chicago Champions in the Chicago Coliseum starting an intercity rivalry that lasted until 1961.

The Golden Gloves eliminated amateur mismatches of the past, when beginners faced injury and disillusionment.

The Gloves created the ?sub-novice? class, whereby beginner met beginner. The Gloves also required complete physical checkups, unlike the previous Amateur Athletic Union days.

Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward conceived the idea of a city-wide amateur boxing tournament, to be sponsored by the newspaper.

Each champion was awarded a miniature golden glove, which gave the tournament its name. However, boxing became illegal in Illinois in 1924.

In the meantime, the New York Daily News originated a similar championship tournament for amateur boxers on the East Coast.The Illinois Legislature made boxing legal once more, primarily so the second Dempsey-Tunney fight could be staged in Chicago.

The following year, the Golden Gloves tournament was revived, with the New York and Chicago newspapers holding their own area tournaments.

Winners of those tournaments then fought for the national Golden Gloves championship. Many other newspapers got involved, each conducting a championship tournament leading up to regional and national championships. The tournaments are now conducted by an independent organization, Golden Gloves of America, Inc.

Since the first Golden Gloves tournament, the Golden Gloves of America, Inc. and its member franchises have provided an opportunity and environment for young athletes to develop lifetime skills.

Hundreds of dedicated administrators, coaches, trainers and counselors have unselfishly spent countless times as well as effort to assist young people in the development of personal character and athletic skills.

The Golden Gloves program has led the way in promoting amateur boxing in the United States and has produced the majority of competitors for America?s boxing teams in the Pan-Am and Olympic Games.

Golden Gloves has a mission to provide an activity and safe environment that promotes and enhances the physical and emotional well-being and social development of young athletes.

It develops individual athletic skills, work ethic, discipline, sportsmanship, self-respect and pride. It also provides entertainment to citizens of the community.

In seeking to fulfill its mission, the Golden Gloves has thirty franchises in local and regional tournaments throughout the United States.

Golden Gloves expanded to include teams from other cities. They were sponsored by a newspaper or radio station. 38 teams entered the first year. Investment in Golden Gloves amateur boxing is an investment in today?s youth.

It provides an excellent vehicle to promote and associate your organization with a worthwhile nationally recognized program, and at the same time help worthy young people develop social and physical skills needed in today?s society.