Alexiana “Lexi” Butler, 13, has been training at Lancaster City Boxing Academy with Coach Will Torres for six months and is competing in her first national tournament, the Silver Gloves, this weekend. It’s her debut fight.
Jaysonet “Caleb” Martinez (21-8) has been boxing competitively since he was 8, always with his father, coach Jinji Martinez of Jinji Boxing Club, and is ranked No. 1 at 138 pounds in the Junior Male division by USA Boxing. Martinez, who took home a Silver Gloves National Championship in 2022, is also competing in the tournament this weekend.
In the Silver Gloves, “you can have NO fights and fight someone with 100 fights,” Johnny “Rocket” Rivera, Silver Gloves Region Two assistant coordinator, cheerfully yelled to a coach on the other side of the gym during the recent registration day for the tournament.
Butler and Martinez are proof of that. They, along with more than a dozen other amateur boxers representing multiple Lancaster gyms, will climb into the ring and face an opponent who’s a match in age and weight. But experience, and record, don’t count.
So, what does?
“Positivity,” Butler said. “I’m ready.”
“Pride and power,” and not being afraid to take a punch, said Butler’s teammate, 85-pound Ethan Huerta (3-1).
“Stay humble; whatever happens, happens,” said Christian DeJesus (6-2) of Finefrock & Stumpf Golden Gloves Center. But, he added, “I’m coming for this — this whole tournament.”
It’s the 16-year-old’s first Silver Gloves.
The fact that the tournament begins in Lancaster this year, as opposed to Philadelphia, gives an advantage to the local athletes. They won’t be tired from traveling, and friends and family will be able to come out and cheer them on.
So the home field advantage that usually favors Philly boxers — known to be some of the best in the country — goes to Lancaster this year.
There is, naturally, rivalry between Lancaster gyms and Philly gyms.
At registration, the words printed on the hoodie sported by 24-year-old veteran boxer Alaak Deu said it all — “717 vs Everybody.”
Last year, at age 8, Major Seth, who’s been training at Lancaster City since 2020, brought home the Silver Gloves National Championship in the Pee-Wee Division. He’s currently ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Seth plans to capitalize on fighting in Lancaster.
“This is my gym, this is not his gym,” he said. “I think he’s going to get beat up.”
Then he looked around the space — at the poster- and newspaper article-covered cement walls, at the heavy bags, at his coaches and teammates, and at the championship belts and trophies.
His eyes settled back on a guest, and he added, “This is my ring too.”
The 2024 Pennsylvania Silver Gloves, a USA Boxing sanctioned event, is the first stop on the road to the regional and national competitions. It is being held at Lancaster City Boxing Academy, in Lancaster, and begins Thursday at 4 p.m. then continues on both Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m.
There are 80 bouts scheduled over the three days, with most of the state championship bouts taking place on Saturday.
Food and drink will be available for purchase. Tickets cost $10 for kids ages 3-7 and $25 for fans 8 and older.
