Pierson's Perspective Golden Gloves Recap

By Ricahrd Pierson

It was a great night of amateur boxing this evening in Paterson as Kennedy High School held yet another exciting Golden Gloves show. There were 15 bouts loaded with raw talent and game competitors. But tonight, I realized local gyms going up against each other seems more competitive and equally matched than professional bouts, even though fighters come from across the world in the paid ranks.

Its so amazing to see the towns of the Garden State battle and put such a performance on. There was over ten different towns, and over twenty different boxing clubs congested inside of the high school, shared with mixed fans and supporters. The aroma of the food from the concession stand was pleasant throughout the evening, but what really caught the spectators' attention was the blood, sweat, tears and flying leather.

The gyms fought each other all night, there wasn't a beef between Paterson, Garfield, Newark, Morristown, and Plainfeild. The beef was between (I.S.O.B) and (Goss/Goss) with (Goss/Goss) Shaheed Brown stealing the show with the first T.K.O. of the night. There was a clash of the giants when (Global Boxing) went head up against (Asbury Park), in the end both giants was still standing but Asbury Park's Darryl Bunting walked off with the bean stalk. There was a friendly sparring session between (Elite Heat) and (Elite Heat) with (Elite Heat) walking off winning.

The fight I waited for all night was the battle between (Elizabeth rec.) and (Ike&Randy's Gym). This was a fight most Patersonians was really hoping to win but then again how can Ikes lose, the fight is in Paterson, Ike&Randy's backyard. From the opening bell Ikes Gym came out with shots being being fired, this was the only gym that wasn't using a pro style tonight. (Ikes&Randy's Gym) controlled the second round better the the first round, and I can see Ikes Gym walking away with the bout easy, by the end the third round (Elizabeth Rec) was tired not working as hard as (Ike&Randy's) Ashley Orr let his hands go with shoe shines blended with beautiful up and overs, until the ending and final bell.

That's when one of boxing best moments came, ( AND THE WINNER IS!??) Yes we all had this moment, when you did your job like never before but you feel the lay off coming. All you can do is look at your trainer and wonder whats taking so long its obvious that I won, just then they say it (OUT OF THE RED CORNER!!!), You stand there hoping your color blind because your corner is blue but you know your eyes isn't playing tricks on you because your challenger is jumping up and down happy and surprised.

But hey, this is part of boxing and without the politics and controversy, where would we get any drama?

Editor's Note: Pierson, a Paterson native, is 9-2 with 6 knockouts as a professional prizefighter.

Do you want to own the same shirt that many of the state's top fighters wear? Email gsfightscene@aol.com to get yours today! Shirts come in black with white lettering or white with blue lettering. Sizes range from M-XXL.