Amateur Boxer Michael McIntosh threw a quick left hook at Yancy Quinonez, who kept his stance closed and his defense strong. McIntosh threw punch after punch, hitting his opponent fiercely and without pause. But as Quinonez quickly realized, all of McIntosh’s offense left him open; Narrowly avoiding a punch, Quinonez ducked left and threw a powerful right hook that left McIntosh staggering out of the match.

The Golden Gloves is one of the largest amateur boxing competitions in America. The competition started in 1940s Chicago as a way to not only raise money for charity but also to promote boxing as a sport amongst American youth.

It didn’t take long for the competition to establish branches all across the United States, and eventually, one branch found itself a home in Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

Thanks to the event runner, Bob Russo, I was granted the privilege of sitting ringside next to the coaches and other journalists reporting on the action-packed event.

The first fight of the Golden Glove preliminaries only lasted forty-five seconds, yet it was an omen of what was to come. Nine fights were left, all made up of 18 amateur boxers looking to rise the ranks and become professional fighters, all while raising money for charity.

Famous boxers such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Mickey Ward, and Rocky Marciano all got their start at this very New England tournament. The Golden Gloves is an integral part of New England’s largely underappreciated boxing tradition.

When I walked into Lowell Memorial Auditorium, the twenty-eight-hundred-seat auditorium was packed with spectators all eager to see who would climb the ranks. Fighters from all over New England would be competing.

Coaches were sitting ringside yelling “Duck!” “Block!” or “Jab!” at their respective boxers. Photographers were rapidly taking photo after photo, chasing the famous ‘punch shot’ that headlines every boxing story. Some photographers even stuck their cameras into the ring in an attempt to get the best shot.

Through all the noise, the boxers were still maintaining their focus, which is crucial for a sport that requires a reaction time of two to ten milliseconds.

The boxers were equipped with standard gloves, headgear, and jerseys, all color-coordinated to the corner they were fighting in (red or blue). Every fight was made up of three rounds. If there is no knockout, a panel of judges decides who fought the best. If there is a split vote, the fight goes on for another round.

The event wasn’t just about the skill and spectacle, it demonstrated something about boxing that is often misunderstood. Most people perceive boxing as a violent and barbaric sport. However, the sportsmanship and respect demonstrated by the boxers outpaced any other live sport I’d seen before.

If you’re looking for a fun night full of excitement and spectacle, I could not recommend the New England Golden Gloves enough. For twenty-two dollars and a relatively short drive, I promise that the Golden Gloves will not disappoint.