National Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament Returns To Detroit
The best amateur boxers from around the country will be making their way to Detroit. For the first time in 24 years, the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions is making its return to Detroit. The Metro Detroit Golden Gloves and the Downtown Boxing Gym (DBG) will host the 2024 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, May 13-18 at Huntington Place.
Background of the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions
According to the Golden Gloves of America website, the first Golden Gloves tournament took place in 1923. The Golden Gloves of America, Inc. and its member franchises provide an opportunity and environment for young athletes to develop lifetime skills. Hundreds of administrators, coaches, trainers, and counselors have helped young people in the development of personal character and athletic skills. The Golden Gloves program promotes amateur boxing in the United States and has produced many competitors for America’s boxing teams in the Pan-Am and Olympic games.
The last time Detroit hosted the tournament was in 2000. Other tournament stops include Grand Rapids, Reno, Nevada, Knoxville, Tennessee and Denver, Colorado.
What to Expect at The Tournament
The event will feature over 300 boxers from 30 Golden Gloves franchises across the United States. Male and female boxers, ages 18-42, will compete across 20 weight classes for the title of National Golden Gloves Champion.
Huntington Place will be transformed into a boxing arena featuring four rings. Over the six days of the tournament, more than 200 bouts will be held, and one man and one woman will be chosen as winners.
The Metro Detroit Golden Gloves partnered with the Downtown Boxing Gym and the Detroit Sports Commission to help bring the annual event back to Detroit, winning a bid from dozens of cities vying to host the big event.
Metro Detroit Golden Gloves President Ansel Stewart told Click On Detroit that the city of Detroit itself was the selling point. “When we put in the bid, Detroit was at the forefront,” said Stewart. “We’re selling Detroit, and everybody was excited. They want to come back to Detroit because they’ve heard good things about Detroit.”
This event comes after the success of the NFL Draft the city hosted. Detroit broke the NFL draft attendance record with over 775K fans last month.
Many Golden Gloves champions became professional world champions, including Joe Louis, Thomas Hearns, and Muhammad Ali. According to the History Network, Joe Louis began boxing in the amateur circuit in 1932. He won Detroit’s Golden Gloves light-heavyweight title in the open class in 1934. In 1977, at age 19, Thomas Hearns won a Golden Gloves championship and was named the nation’s “Outstanding National Amateur Boxer.” Muhammad Ali won six Golden Gloves tournaments as an amateur boxer.
Tickets for the week of boxing are available at the door and can be found online here.
