Jordan Alba (blue) with team Barracks fights and defeats Ariel Salazar (red) with team Sam Colonna in Bout 2 of the novice round during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
CICERO — Boxers young and old from every corner of the city stepped into the ring Thursday night to settle scores the Chicago way.
The Chicago Golden Gloves, a storied amateur boxing tournament, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It kicked off its championship round Thursday night and will continue at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Cicero Stadium, 1909 S. Laramie Ave.
Through the years, Chicago Golden Gloves has welcomed within its ropes future titans of “the sweet science,” like Sonny Liston, Joe Louis and a young up-and-comer who then went by Cassius Clay.
Golden Gloves was the first stop for a handful of Chicagoans who headed to the Olympics and an incubator for future dignitaries who greased the wheels of the Daley machine.
Many past champs — from world heavyweight contender “Fast” Fres Oquendo to businessman Jorge Pacheco to Illinois Appellate Court Judge Joe Birkett — yelled ringside Thursday as the city crowned its next best.
This year’s tournament has 470-some male and female boxers battling it out in three-round bouts. The winners will move on to the national championship in May at Harrah’s Casino in Chester, Penn.
Block Club has the sights and sounds from Thursday night’s action:
Alan Allende (blue) with team Rumi Maki fights and defeats Michael Russo (red) with team Sam Colonna in the 147lb junior novice bout during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoJordan Alba (blue) with team Barracks fights and defeats Ariel Salazar (red) with team Sam Colonna in Bout 2 of the novice round during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoNate Jones and Fres Oquendo cheer from the corner for their fighter Jamarhi Colbert with team ABC during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoHarley Yu (blue) with team 1.8.7 fights and defeats Kamrin Steveson in the heavyweight novice bout during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoJordan Alba (blue) with team Barracks fights and defeats Ariel Salazar (red) with team Sam Colonna in Bout 2 of the novice round during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoYueyao Wang (blue) with team Sam Colonna is declared the winner of 114lb female senior novice bout during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoNate Jones and Fres Oquendo watch in the corner for their fighter Jamarhi Colbert with team ABC during the 165lb senior novice bout during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoCassius Waite (red) with team Northside fights and defeats Jamarhi Colbert (blue) with team ABC in the 165lb senior novice bout during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoCassius Waite (red) with team Northside fights and defeats Jamarhi Colbert (blue) with team ABC in the 165lb senior novice bout during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoJohn Campas with team Oakley and Alan Terbush with team Franklin St. fight in Bout 3 during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoFormer Golden Gloves and Mexican National champion Jorge Pacheco is honored during the 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoThe 100th Anniversary Golden Gloves championship is hosted at Cicero Stadium on April 13, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
