Three Flint boxers from Berston Fieldhouse to compete in Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions
FLINT, MI — Three boxers from the same gym will be representing Flint on one of amateur boxing’s biggest stages next week.
Jaquan McElroy, Christopher Thompson and Sardius Simmons, all who train out of the Berston Field House boxing gym located on the city’s north side, will compete in the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in Tulsa, Oklahoma next week.
It might be these boxers’ last chance to showcase their skills before seeking a professional career, the trio said during their last home gym workout before heading south.
Veteran trainer and coach Jason Crutchfield said he’s been urging focus for each of these fighters before their fights on the national stage.
“Stay focused and stay in control of yourself. You know what I mean?” Crutchfield said. “That’s what it basically is all about. Staying focused. Most times, the guy that wins is the guy who stays focused and is hungry.”
It’s a rarity that three fighters from the same gym to all get the opportunity to fight at nationals like this nowadays, Crutchfield said. It happened on occasion at boxing’s peak of popularity, but the occurrence is much more uncommon now.
McElroy, the youngest of the three fighters at age 23, is fighting at 156 pounds. He’s been training for about 12 years at Berston Field House. He got into boxing from seeing his brother succeed.
“He kept bringing home trophies and stuff and I was just on YouTube trying to dance,” McElroy said.
McElroy has a goal to win every amateur national tournament, and this is the only one in which he has not won.
Thompson, 29, has fought in this tournament three times and once earned bronze. He plans to use that experience to his advantage at 176 pounds.
“I’ve been doing it too long to be nervous. I just want to win,” Thompson said. “… It means a lot – and to win it with my friends – that would be even better.”
Simmons, 28, won the national Golden Gloves tournament in 2016. He took a few years off from 2017-2020 after rotator cuff surgery, but he’s hoping to reclaim that spot in the 203-pound category.
Simmons takes motivation from other boxers when they doubt him from coming out of Flint.
“Everywhere we go, when people hear Flint they always think something bad, so it is just a good thing to prove there’s positivity out there,” he said.
Crutchfield and each boxer said they are confident of their chances of winning the tournament at each weight class.
“We are all dogs. We all got the same style, but we just bring it our own way. … These are my brothers – we put in blood, sweat and tears and years together,” Simmons said.
The 2022 Tournament of Champions is taking place from Aug. 15 to Aug. 20 at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A livestream is available for purchase on the Golden Gloves website.
Travel expenses were covered by a partnership with Ven Johnson Law, who provided $5,000 so these boxers could compete in the tournament. Crutchfield thanked the organization for its partnership.
Read more at The Flint Journal:
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Here are all the school board candidates in Genesee County running in November
‘Great school year’ anticipated after first day of Flint 2022-23 academic year
New Swartz Creek schools superintendent’s vision is to bring district from ‘good to great’
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