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“Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, Jr.,
Demarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, DaVarryl Williamson, Lamont Brewster, “Baby”
Joe Mesi, Zahir Raheem, Dominick Guinn, Brian Viloria, Clarence Vinson,
Ricardo Williams, Jr., Ebo Elder, Sechew Powell, Jermaine Taylor, Jerson
Ravelo, Malik Scott, and Anthony “The Messenger” Thompson all have a few
things in common. They’re all successful professional boxers that have had
televised bouts. They all also enjoyed successful amateur boxing careers.
But even boxing fans may not know another common bond they have. They have
all competed as amateurs at one of the nation’s premier invitational
tournaments right in southeastern Wisconsin. 2004 Olympians Devin Vargas
and Andre Dirrell (Bronze at 165lbs.) as well 4 time national champion
Roberto Benitez have also competed recently in the tournament. And six
members of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Boxing team competed here.
The American Boxing Classic has hosted
competition for 8 years for the nation’s top ranked amateur boxers. It has
been called one of the best-kept secrets in sports. And the Classic is
certainly classy. Jack Pellman, who hosts the tournament, and Bob Schmidt,
John Pellman, and Brian Cleary, who run it, maintain a first-class
atmosphere. The young athletes have received embroidered leather jackets,
embroidered boxing attire, outstanding trophies, gold rings, and medals.
Travel, lodging, and per-diems are paid. The boxing officials, who are all
volunteers in the sport, are treated well and invited to a great catered
dinner buffet before the bouts. The best boxers in the nation are given the
ultimate respect for all their hard work in training and competing.
And these aren’t your Mike Tyson type
ear-biting athletes. As Gary D’Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
wrote in 1998, “These are polite, disciplined young men participating in an
ultra-clean, ultra-regulated sport. The injury rate is much lower in
amateur boxing than it is in high school football. I interviewed several
boxers and was impressed by their attentiveness, earnestness, and impeccable
manners. These are kids who say, ‘Yes, sir’ and ‘No, sir.’ They have
dignity and self-respect, and it shows. You will rarely see more genuine
displays of sportsmanship, in any sport, at any level.” This is exactly
what amateur boxing programs generate as they change and save young lives
around the country every day. And the American Boxing Classic is a tribute
to the many fine efforts of coaches, athletes, and officials everywhere by
being “top-shelf” in every respect.
D’Amato probably said it best in that
1998 article, “It’s classy. It’s unique. And its motive – to provide a
first-rate tournament for the nation’s top amateur boxers – is pure.” But
Stan Gallup of Golden Gloves adds, “Numerous amateur boxing shows take place
across the country every year, but there are none that can compare with the
prestigious American Boxing Classic.” |
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