Expert: Lian Shoemake - 3/12/2009

Question
I was just wondering how they match up the fighters for the GG tournament. Like do they have it by age groups and/or experience? Or do they just match fighters up randomly with whoever is in the same weightclass.

Answer
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the question.
Age is only a factor up through the age of 16. Ages 8-16 comprise USA Boxing's Junior Olympic program, and there are strict age and weight restrictions for those bouts. After that point (age 17 through 34), weight and experience determine match ups.

So in a Golden Gloves tournament, typically there will be a novice category (for boxers with 10 bouts or fewer) and an open division (for those with more than 10 bouts). Boxers within either category can be matched with any other boxer in their respective weight class, regardless of age. So two boxers with 12 bouts each could compete against each other in the 141-pound class, even if one was 18 and the other was 32.
If there are multiple boxers in the same category and weight class, the matching process is usually random (names in a hat, etc.).

I hope this helps, Daniel.
Thanks again for writing!

Regards,
Lian