What: Indiana Golden Gloves
Where: Tyndall Armory, 711 N. Pennsylvania St.
When: Thursdays, March 15-April 19, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $9-$10, 317-838-7436

The Indiana Golden Gloves returns on March 15 at Tyndall Armory, 711 N. Pennsylvania St. This year’s tournament will once again include the Junior Gloves, a tournament involving young boxers, from ages 8 to 16. So far 60 boys have signed up to box. These fights will be interspersed within the regular tournament, in which 125 senior boxers will enter the ring. Moreover, this year’s competition includes 10 female boxers.

According to George DeFabis, former president of the Indiana Golden Gloves, the Junior Gloves provides young boxers a chance to compete in front of a crowd. “These kids are the grass-roots of our program. By giving them experience, we hope that they will become our future Golden Glove champions. What these kids lack in finesse, they will make up for in action.”

Since 1930, Indiana has produced 24 national champions, two of whom became world champions, including three-time light heavyweight champion Marvin Johnson. (In 1976, Cincinnati’s Aaron Pryor represented Indiana and later became the light welterweight champion, from 1980 to 1985.) The former World Boxing Organization Heavyweight Champion and Indianapolis native, Lamon Brewster, won the Indiana State Golden Gloves title.

The Indiana team is due for a future champion. The last national champion from Indiana was Lafayette’s Darnell Wilson, who won the 156-pound championship, in 1993.
But this tournament produces more than boxers. Through this competition, the Indiana Golden Gloves awards five $1,000 scholarships to its fighters. Boxers need not win fights to win scholarships. The Gloves reward boxers who maintain good grades and show an interest in pursuing an education.

The Golden Gloves takes place each Thursday, beginning on March 15 and ending on April 19 — the championship night. The senior boxers, ages 17 to 34, will compete in the usual divisions: Open, Junior Open, Novice and Sub-Novice. The Open champions will compete in the national tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., April 30 through May 5.

Each night will feature 18 to 20 fights. In an age of sky-high prices for sporting events, the Gloves’ tickets are hard to beat.

Ringside seats are $10 and $9 for general admission. DeFabis adds that the ringside seats for the final two weeks sell out in advance. So, don’t wait to buy tickets.

Tickets are available at the Indiana State Fairgrounds box office or through Jason Spears (jasgoldengloves@sbcglobal.net or ingoldenglovesfd@yahoo.com or 317-838-7436). They will also be available at the Tyndall Armory on the night of the fights. Doors open at 6:30; fights begin at 7:30 p.m.