National

Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament Begins in Fort Washington

THE AFRO — Maryland’s National Golden Gloves boxing champions reads like a who’s who list of Hall of Fame talent.

Published

5 years ago

February 20, 2019

By Mark F. Gray

Maryland’s National Golden Gloves boxing champions reads like a who’s who list of Hall of Fame talent that has made a significant impact on the sweet science. From Olympic medalists to world title holders the D.M.V.’s amateur talent continues to rank elite in the sport.

The future champions will begin the quest for the next generation’s glory at Rosecroft Raceway when the preliminary bouts of the Washington Golden Gloves Championship begin in southern Maryland. These fighters, who emerge as regional champions, will have been tested through six weeks of intense bouts with a chance to earn a trip to the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee May 5-12.

“Over the last 10 years this has probably become the tournament in the nation,” producer Bobby Magruder told the AFRO.

Maryland’s impact on the National Golden Gloves dates back over 40 years where former Olympic gold medalist and world champion Sugar Ray Leonard was born before he burst on to the international scene during the 1976 Olympics. Since then a cadre of champions have emerged from this under-appreciated cradle of excellence that has been dwarfed by athletes who compete in team sports.

“Golden Gloves is similar to a Major League Baseball farm system for boxing,” Magruder said. “All the top promoters keep an eye on this tournament because this is where most contenders are discovered. Back in the day you would see the Don King’s and Bob Arum’s who were looking to sign champions after [the national tournament]. These days it’s the [Oscar] De La Hoya’s and [Floyd] Mayweather’s who are waiting to sign them.”

Leonard probably remains the most transcendent fighter to emerge from Maryland’s Golden Gloves program. However, he is not the only one who went from the obscurity of trying to qualify to compete in the National Golden Gloves Tournament to world champion. Nearly every professional contender or champion from this region has made a debut that validated their credibility as elite boxers.

Current world junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd and former two-time light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson are two of the D.M.V.’s title holders who have emerged from the Washington Golden Gloves Championship Tournament. However, there’s one family who has made the biggest impact as any since emerging from the program.

Team Gary Russell is the only family in history to produce four national Golden Gloves champions. The boxing family from Capital Heights introduced its family to the boxing world from this tournament and their brand has skyrocketed since.

Current world featherweight champion Gary Russell, Jr. was the first of the quartet of Russells whose initial step to international acclaim was launched from this stage. “Jr.” set the tone for his brothers by winning the national championship and becoming a world champion which came to fruition on March 28, 2015 with his victory over Jhonny Gonzalez to give him the World Boxing Council belt.

His brothers –Gary Antuanne and Gary Antonio also became national champions. Gary Antonio won the 2013 Golden Gloves and is an undefeated super bantamweight contender whose record is 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Gary Autuanne won the D.C. Golden Gloves outstanding boxer award before winning the national championship in 2015. He won the Olympic Bronze medal in 2016. Antuanne was also valedictorian of his high school graduating class which is another aspect of the Golden Gloves program.

“We’re trying to keep kids off the street and give them to believe in,” McGruder said.

Ten fighters will emerge from the local tournament which concludes on April 6. The group from D.C., Delaware and Maryland will the face Virginia/North Carolina winners for the right to compete in Chattanooga.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

13 hours ago

April 19, 2024

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

3 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.

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Commentary

Commentary: Republican Votes Are Threatening American Democracy

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We needed to know the blunt truth. The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2024

Oakland Post

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening. That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

By Emil Guillermo

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We needed to know the blunt truth.

The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

And to save it will require all hands on deck.

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening.

That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

No man is above the law? To the majority of his supporters, it seems Trump is.

It’s an anti-democracy loyalty that has spread like a political virus.

No matter what he does, Trump’s their guy. Trump received 51% of caucus-goers votes to beat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who garnered 21.2%, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who got 19.1%.

The Asian flash in the pan Vivek Ramaswamy finished way behind and dropped out. Perhaps to get in the VP line. Don’t count on it.

According to CNN’s entrance polls, when caucus-goers were asked if they were a part of the “MAGA movement,” nearly half — 46% — said yes. More revealing: “Do you think Biden legitimately won in 2020?”

Only 29% said “yes.”

That means an overwhelming 66% said “no,” thus showing the deep roots in Iowa of the “Big Lie,” the belief in a falsehood that Trump was a victim of election theft.

Even more revealing and posing a direct threat to our democracy was the question of whether Trump was fit for the presidency, even if convicted of a crime.

Sixty-five percent said “yes.”

Who says that about anyone of color indicted on 91 criminal felony counts?

Would a BIPOC executive found liable for business fraud in civil court be given a pass?

How about a BIPOC person found liable for sexual assault?

Iowans have debased the phrase, “no man is above the law.” It’s a mindset that would vote in an American dictatorship.

Compare Iowa with voters in Asia last weekend. Taiwan rejected threats from authoritarian Beijing and elected pro-democracy Taiwanese vice president Lai Ching-te as its new president.

Meanwhile, in our country, which supposedly knows a thing or two about democracy, the Iowa caucuses show how Americans feel about authoritarianism.

Some Americans actually like it even more than the Constitution allows.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a mini-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1.