http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110122/SPORTS/701229864
Published January 22, 2011 in the Rutland Herald
G
loves tonight, but boxers missing in action
By Chuck Clarino
Staff writer
The story about the first weekend of the Vermont Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament is not who is fighting but who is not.
For the first time in years, there is not a representative of a Rutland boxing club participating in the tournament, which kicks off tonight in Burlington’s Memorial Auditorium with the opening bell sounding at 7:30 p.m.
Also, the Springfield Boxing Club, which has had a highly successful run over the past decade, has only two fighters both are vying in the same weight class and one or both may not even show up.
Then there’s the Windsor Boxing Club, which boasted a trio of champions last year but has lost its coach, John George, that is also sending a limited number of participants.
Among this 13 bouts scheduled for tonight’s card that opens the three-Saturday tournament, there is not a single fighter from mid- or southern Vermont. In fact, among the 26 competitors that are slated to box, only 10 are known to hail from the state.
“It’s really sad, we have the business community behind us and we get good media exposure but no one wants to box,” said Rutland City Boxing Club coach and trainer and former heavyweight champion Cal Josselyn Jr. “Between the ‘Tough Man’ competitions and things like the ‘Burlington Brawl,’ no one wants to box anymore.”
Meanwhile, Bob Obdrzalek at Springfield Boxing Club has only two contestants ready for the Vermont Golden Gloves, but both Todd Jackson and Luken Weaver are entered at 152 pounds. And even at that, there may be other forces at work that will have one or both of them not available. Both work out of town and one is said to have a physical problem that may prevent him from competing.
“Todd Jackson is a carpenter, who works out of state and I hope that he comes,” said Obdrzalek, who said he has 17 club members presently working out in the gym. “But you know that I won’t take someone to the Golden Gloves unless they are ready and right now we are concentrating on our younger boxers.”
Obdrzalek had a trio of boxers who won medals in the 2010 Silver Mittens, which is the version of Golden Gloves boxing for those fighters 16 and under. Obdrzalek also reported that of the three female boxers in the club, two were not ready, while his Golden Gloves veteran went to Florida on vacation and put on excessive weight and will not compete this year.
“It’s a sad, sad story,” Obdrzalek said.
Then there is the story of Windsor Boxing. George, who had served as coach and trainer and built the club up to championship caliber, guiding both male and female boxers in multiple weight classes to both Vermont and New England crowns, left town suddenly to care for a seriously-ill relative.
His absence left a void in the club. Assistant Jim Fox and the mother of Vermont and New England champ Chris Gilbert are said to be running the club. Neither could be reached but Vermont Golden Gloves Tournament Director Ernie Farrar reported that Gilbert will box next week to begin defense of his Open Division crown. Farrar also said that there will be a female boxer from Windsor, who will not compete until the final weekend.
Farrar also reported that the largest amateur boxing tournament in northern New England has undergone a name change it will be called the Northern New England Golden Gloves of Vermont.
“Don’t be fooled, it will always be called the Vermont Golden Gloves Tournament,” Farrar said. “That has been the name for years but those in Lowell (where the New England Tournament of Champions is held) want it to be called that.”
The opening night card of 13 bouts appears on the Scoreboard page and is subject to change.
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