Sunday, April 7, 2002
HUBBARD -- Registration for the 2002 KO Drugs High School Boxing Tournament will be Wednesday at the Hubbard High gymnasium between 4 and 6 p.m.
Other registration dates will be April 17 and 24 at the same times and place.
This will be the 15th year for the KO Drugs High School Tournament, founded by Chuck Nelson. In the previous 14 years it has produced more than 60 Golden Gloves champions, with 12 of them going into the professional ranks.
Last year's tournament had 164 participants.
The Hubbard gym will be the site of this year's tournament, to be held each Wednesday in May.
Open competition: The participants will come from more than 40 high schools in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Mercer counties. The competition is open to all boys and girls in grades 9 through 12 with three divisions, upper and lower class for the boys, and a female division.
The tournament is for beginning boxers who have had no formal amateur or professional experience. The competition consists of 30 weight classes. Three weeks of round robin and double elimination action will send the two participants with the best records in each weight class to the championship bouts.
Nelson and his son, Pat, who in recent years has acted as the matchmaker for the tournament, both emphasize that safety is the main factor in the tournament. The bouts consist of three 45-second rounds fought with 18 ounce gloves and extra padded headgear.
For information, students and parents can call Chuck Nelson at (330) 702-1122.
Parental consent, along with a $20 registration fee that covers the cost of insurance and a physical examination, are required of all participants. All equipment will be provided and trainers will work the corners.