The National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, making its third appearance in Little Rock in the past 20 years, will be down to its quarterfinals by Thursday, May 19, at the Statehouse Convention Center. The semifinals are scheduled for Friday, May 20, and the amateur champions will be determined in fights on Saturday, May 21.
It’s a literal three-ring circus through Thursday, with fights going on in three rings at the venue beginning at 6 p.m. Semifinals are held in two rings, with 11 bouts scheduled for each ring. Beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, the Convention Center floor will be down to one ring with 11 championship bouts in the various weight classes starting at 7 p.m. Past National Golden Glove champions include Little Rock’s two-time champ Jermain Taylor, as well as Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Oscar de la Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.
Tickets range from $6.75 to $15.75 on Thursday and from $8.75 to $15.75 for Friday and Saturday through Ticketmaster (most Harvest Foods stores or by calling 975-7575).
Golden Gloves originated in Chicago in 1923, and the first National Tournament of Champions took place in 1927. Golden Gloves of America is a non-profit organization consisting of 30 regional franchise areas dedicated to inner-city youth outreach and upholding the greatest ideals of amateur sports-boxing.
ESPN Classic will be nationally televising the boxing action Friday and Saturday, the first time the network has shown a live event in prime time.