Expert: Melanie Ley - 9/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Melanie,
How does a amateur fighter make it to Nationals, what tournaments? Are what steps?
         thanks James

ANSWER: Hi James - first of all, for the senior division, you must be 17, a U.S. citizen, and have a minimum of 5 recorded bouts in your passbook.  In the case of the U.S. Championships, you must win your weight class at the local and regional tournaments to qualify.  For Golden Gloves, you must win your local and franchise tournaments to qualify.  The National PAL is an open invitational where you don't have to qualify locally or regionally but you have to pay your own way.

Hope that answers your question.  8-)



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Melanie, for answering the question that helps a lot. My next question is what about female boxing what are the steps to go to Nationals, and is there a preference between Nationals are winning Armed Forces championships. Which would get you to olympics quicker.
         Thanks again James

Answer
Hmm - I think you've asked two questions, but I'm not sure.  8-)  For a female to participate at the U.S. Championships, she must be at least 17 years old, a U.S. citizen, and have at least 5 scored bouts in her passbook.  

Depending on the qualification criteria for 2012, whichever tournament gets you to the Olympic Trials should be your preference.  For the males, you must qualify for the U.S. Championships by winning your local and regional tournaments.  You must then win the U.S. Championships to qualify for a spot at the Olympic Trials.  Winning the Armed Forces will either get you a slot at the Trials or get you to the U.S. Championships, depending on what USA Boxing does in 2012.