Several hundred young boxing hopefuls from around Florida will be vying for state championship titles in the 2006 Florida Silver Gloves Boxing Tournament. It will be held at Palm Beach County’s Westgate Recreation Center on December 8 and 9. The Westgate Recreation Center is located at 3691 Oswego Avenue in West Palm Beach.
County Commissioners Jeff Koons and Jess Santamaria and Sheriff’s Col. Mike Gauger will be on hand for the opening ceremony Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. The Friday session features up to 20 action-packed matches with approximately 15 more scheduled for Saturday beginning at 3 p.m.
Tournament contestants range in age from 8 to 15 and compete in four age classes. The 10 to 15-year-old Silver Gloves champions become eligible for the U.S. regional tournament. Also featured will be adult boxers squaring off in sanctioned non-tournament bouts.
There are a number of active boxing clubs in Palm Beach County, such as the Police Athletic League (PAL) programs in Belle Glade, Royal Palm Beach and Boca Raton. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office PAL program in Belle Glade currently has three state title holders and hopes to add more.
In the days leading up to the Silver Gloves Championship, boxers from the PBSO/Belle Glade program will train with the new PAL/Club 100 boxing program at the County's Cabana Colony Youth Center. Local news media are welcome on December 5 to meet the young boxers and trainers.
Don’t miss a great opportunity to see some of Florida’s Olympic hopefuls compete for the Florida championship, December 8 and 9 at the Westgate Recreation Center. Admission is $7; children 12 and under are free. For more information, please contact Chairman Mike LeStrange at 254-7773.
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