“Yeah, I Was in the Gloves” By Bernie McCoy

Even after all these years, the thing that I remember most vividly about that night was the boxing robe. It wasn't the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, but it was in the top ten. It was an almost black-red color, the color that cherries have when they're displayed on a fruit stand. On the back of the robe, in white script, was the legend "Salem Crescent". Those two words were enough for anyone who knew anything about Golden Gloves boxing in New York I was in the corner of a boxing ring in the gym at St Thomas Aquinas School, almost at the end of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. It was the first round of the Golden Gloves a long time ago. It was a time before headgear, it was a time before two minute rounds for first time boxers or as they were known in the Gloves, sub-novice fighters. If Read more [...]

Professional Boxing Series Continues at HP Pavilion at San Jose September 10, 2003

San Jose, CA--- Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E) and Golden Boy Promotions announced today that Miller Lite Fight Night at the Tank will continue at HP Pavilion at San Jose on Thursday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m. Featured on the card will be Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez (22-0-0, 17 KO’s) of Chino, CA. Gonzalez will face a tough opponent in Samuel Lopez (14-1-0, 5 KO’s) in this 12 round bout for the NABO Bantamweight Title. Also appearing on the card is undefeated super middleweight Ricardo Cortes (10-0-1, 6 KO’s) of San Jose, CA and undefeated prospect Arturo Quintero (7-0, 4KO’s) of Las Vegas, NV. Roger Gonzalez (22-0-0, 17 KO’s) hails from Chino, California and is currently the NABO bantamweight champion. He is one of boxing’s most highly regarded young contenders. Read more [...]

Irwin backs out of Balletto fight

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Billy “The Kid” Irwin, according to veteran promoter Jimmy Burchfield, is living up to his nickname. Acting more like a kid than man, Irwin has informed Burchfield that he is reneging on his agreement to fight Gary “Tiger” Balletto, claiming he didn’t have enough time to train. Irwin had verbally agreed to fight International Boxing Union lightweight champion Balletto (29-1-2, 25 KOs), of Providence (RI), October 31 in the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights main event, but the Canadian lightweight title-holder Irwin (41-5, 29 KOs) has officially backed-out of the match. “Two months isn’t enough time to train,” an irritated Burchfield rhetorically asked. “Irwin must believe Gary Balletto is the top lightweight in the world. Eight weeks is more than Read more [...]