By Lou McLaughlin: Nearly every big name elite boxing champion starts his career at a young age in amateur competition of the Golden Gloves. Name any elite champion of the past 40 years-Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, or even New Jersey’s “The Real Rocky” Chuck Wepner started competing for the glory of trophies.
The New Jersey Golden Gloves will host the championship for its 2012 amateur boxing tournament on Saturday, April 7, at Prudential Center’s AmeriHealth Pavilion in Newark.
The evening’s program will feature the best amateur boxers in New Jersey as they strive for Golden Gloves glory. These athletes have been competing in preliminary shows this season, and only the most skillful will have made it to the finals. They all are hoping for a chance to become part of the New Jersey state team and compete in the National Tournament of Champions later this spring in Mesquite, Nevada.
The Scheduled Bouts
123 lb class Tyshawn Jones of Newark (who was last year’s champ) vs. Kenyon Session also of Newark in an Intra gym rivalry. Both boxers box out of Elite Heat Boxing Club of Newark.
132 lb class Anthony Bugin from the western N.J. town of Atco representing the Victory Boxing Club of Cherry Hill takes on Felix Tejada of Union City representing the Union City Boxing club.
141 lb class features Rickey Edward of Paterson’s Joe Grier Boxing Academy will contest against Hoboken’s Hector Melendez representing the Union City Boxing Club.
152 lb class Shakor Jackson of Newark another fighter from the Elite Heat BC takes on Anthony Gangemi from Mine Hill (last year’s champ) representing the Dover Boxing Club
165 lb class John Magda hailing from Paterson’s Ike & Randy’s Boxing club vs. fellow Paterson resident Ian Green from ISOB
178 lb Will Darryl Bunting of Asbury Park’s Boxing club vs. Tyshan Murray from Elizabeth representing the Elizabeth Recreational Center.
201 lb Trenton’s Mike Hilton (last years champ) from the Goss and Goss Boxing Club going will take on Ibn Akbar Richardson of Newark coming out of the Coliseum Gym of Irvington.
201lb + Will showcase Tyrell Wright of Jersey City and the Bayonne P.A.L. against. Dan Pasciolla from Brick Township representing the Asbury Park Boxing Club
You can see action in each bout to rival any of today’s expensive PPV events. You have the opportunity to witness a future star in the sport beginning an illustrious career. Also this event evidences the Renaissance of Newark‘s Prudential Arena in bringing quality sports and entertainment back to Newark.. The fan’s presence will inspire these young men to strive to their utmost and will surely provide and evening of action filled bouts
Doors open at 6 p.m. for those who purchase table seats and 6:30 pm. for general admission. The first bout begins at 7 p.m.
This year we are offering table seating with a buffet that includes chicken, roast beef, lasagna and dessert. The cost is $1,035 for a table of 10 or $515 for five seats. The buffet is open from 6 to 8 p.m. and dessert is served from 8 to 9 p.m.
General admission seats cost $33.50 each.
Tickets are available by calling the NJ Golden Gloves headquarters at 732-318-7131; Dan Doyle at 908-230-2510; or Jose Rosario at 201-679-0485.
Tickets also are available at ICAT Academy of Boxing, Fitness & Martial Arts, 1304 Brielle Ave., Ocean Township, or by calling ICAT’s Stephanie Lashley at 732-531-1422
The Prudential Center will offer tickets through its website, www.prucenter.com.