Expert: Melanie Ley - 7/18/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi Melanie,my question is the the difference between the Junior Olympics and the Junior Golden Gloves? Also maybe you can give me some insight into the different novice tournaments and the age requirements and what governing body's sponsor which tournaments.    Thanks,Its really quite confusing.  Tim

ANSWER: First of all, USA Boxing is the national governing body of ALL amateur boxing in the U.S.  Golden Gloves and Silver Gloves are group members who sponsor one national tournament a year.  Junior Olympics is a USA Boxing program that includes 8 to 16 year olds, with 15 & 16 year olds advancing to a national tournament which can also qualify them for international competition.  Junior Golden Gloves is a yearly tournament that does not advance to any other tournaments.  The Golden Gloves have the Golden Gloves Championships for ages 17 to 34 and the Junior Golden Gloves; Silver Gloves has the one yearly tournament.  Police Athlete League (PAL) has a yearly national tournament for ages 11 to 34.  

Hope this helps.  Let me know if you need more information.  

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

QUESTION: Hi Melanie, W is the difference between the regional s and winning the state championship in amateur boxing? I'm from Philly and was wondering what the order was in getting to national competition.   Thanks Tim

Answer
If you want to qualify for, say, the US Championships - you must win your LBC tournament and your regional tournament.  For Golden Gloves, you must win your LBC tournament and then your franchise regional tournament - which could be your state only or could include several states.  Sometimes your state tournament IS your LBC tournament; regional tournaments usually involve more than one LBC.