85th annual Golden Gloves comes to Brooklyn

It’s sure to be a knock out.

The 85th Annual Golden Gloves boxing tournament, sponsored by TheNew York Daily News, is making its way to southwest Brooklyn.

It goes all over the five boroughs for shows and the finals are inMadison Square Garden, explained Stephen Lorenzo, a reportercovering the Golden Gloves for The Daily News. Another claim tofame is that is produced more world champions than any otheramateur boxing tournament, including the Olympics.

Most of the events cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. It’sdecently cheap enough for people to get in and watch amateurs,Lorenzo said.

The Golden Gloves were at Mary Queen of Heaven on February 1 and atSt. Patrick’s School February 2. Novices were featured during thesematches. Novices are boxers who have had 10 or fewer fights or whoare participating in their first Gloves, Lorenzo said.

The Golden Gloves come to St. Finbar’s auditorium on February 7.Its like an American Idol for boxers, said Father MichaelGelfant, adding that he is happy to host the event twice – onceagain on March 6 for the quarter-finals.

It opens up the parish facilities to the larger community. It’s asporting event and that’s what the auditorium was built for. Itgives exposure to the parish and the good works we are doing inBath Beach and generates revenue for the parish, Gelfantadded.

On February 15, they make their way to Xaverian High School.Athletic director Jeff O’Brien said he hasn’t been involved withthe Golden Gloves since the mid 1980s and is looking forward to theevening – but not as much as his students.

The kids are really excited about it, he said, adding that a lotof Xaverian alumni are amateur boxers and he would love to see someof them fight in the Golden Gloves. We really got a lot of buzzaround here.

O’Brien added that he is game for any surprises. We may not knowuntil the last minute that there are women on the card fighting,he said. We have to have a separate locker room for them. ThankGod we are prepared.

Quarter-finals will also take place at St. Athanasius on March2.

They say today’s Gloves are tomorrows champions. I hope thetradition continues, Lorenzo said. This year is off to a goodstart.