jim miller/viewParnell Fisher, right, throws a punch into the gloves of coach Pat Barry of Barry?s Boxing Center, 2664 S. Highland Drive, during a workout on July 14.
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The Golden Gloves features the finest amateur boxers in the nation, and this week, they will meet to size up their competition, battle for championship belts, play video games and ride go-carts. The 2008 Junior Golden Gloves Nationals features boxers ages 9 to 16 and will take place Wednesday through Saturday in Mesquite.
The Golden Gloves is the pre-eminent amateur boxing organization in the United States, with a history of creating world champions and an unbroken run of annual bouts going all the way back to 1928.
The junior division is a little younger. This will be the 11th annual Junior Golden Gloves Nationals. Not only will eight to 10 boxers trained at Barry's Boxing Center in Las Vegas be participating in the event, but for the second year, it also will be organized by the local gym, located at 2664 S. Highland Drive.
"Last year was kind of spur of the moment," said Dawn Sanchez, executive director of Barry's Boxing Center. "The person who ran the event before couldn't do it, so we took it over. We had such a good time with it that we put a bid in to run it for three more years and got it. Our hope is that it's such a good tournament that it never goes anywhere else."
Although the nonprofit Barry's Boxing Center is in Las Vegas, economics drove the gym to host the event in Mesquite.
"We were priced out of the market," Sanchez said. "The cheapest we could get here in town, even with the casino cutting us a huge break, was $7,000 a day. One place wanted $30,000 a day. In Mesquite, we're doing it for $1,000 for the whole event."
The less expensive room rate is important, as well.
"Nationwide, boxing is a poor man's sport," Sanchez said.
The event is expected to draw more than 400 participants, a including coaches and officials. As of early this month, about 100 boxers had registered, but more were expected to sign up at registration on Wednesday. There will be around 40 to 50 bouts held nightly. During the day, special events are planned.
"Thursday, we're having an arcade day for the kids and coaches. Friday, we're having a movie day, and Saturday, the boxers will be able to ride go-carts, play miniature golf and go swimming," Sanchez said.
Organizers said that it's important to them that the event be not just a competition, but a bit of a vacation, as well. Sanchez said that often, participants at boxing events are housed in dorm settings.
"It's great," she said. "We have an opportunity to provide a kind of vacation and a summer camp atmosphere for these kids and our coaches to show them how much we appreciate what they do all year."
The Golden Gloves organization provides, through its relationship with Ringside -- a major boxing equipment company -- the gloves for the tournament, as well as a portion of the championship belts.
"They provide belts for the top two age divisions," Sanchez said. "We felt it was important for all champions to get a belt, so that's why we're purchasing the additional championship belts for the 9- to 10- and 11- to 12-year-olds, as well as a Golden Gloves T-shirt for all the boxers."
Jesus "Jesse" Magdaleno, 16, said he is confident that he will take home one of those belts this year, just as he did last year. He has been studying at Barry's Boxing Center for eight years.
"I've been in the sport basically all my life. I'm here every night," he said. "Boxing means so much to me; it takes me to places where I've never been before."
On Saturday at the Oasis Hotel and Casino in Mesquite, there will be a charity poker tournament to raise money for Barry's Boxing Center, which provides training to young boxers and teaches them responsibility and structure.
"For a lot of kids, coming here is the only way they get a positive male role model," Sanchez said.
The 2008 Junior Golden Gloves Nationals will be held Thursday through Saturday in the Casablanca Events Center. Tickets to the fights are $15 per night.
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