Joe Hand Boxing Gym to host PA Golden Gloves Regional Championships April 18th

PHILADELPHIA – On Saturday night, April 18, 2015, some of the best amateur boxers in the state will participate in the annual Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Eastern Regional Championships at the 2300 Arena, 2300 S. Swanson St., South Philadelphia.

The Joe Hand Boxing Gym and Computer Lab will host the tournament, marking the 19th year the gym has been involved with this great event.

“We are always honored to be involved with the Golden Gloves,” said Joe Hand, Jr., president of Joe Hand Promotions and owner of the gym. “It’s a great opportunity for us, along with so many of the local businesses, to give back, and it helps some of these kids not only compete, but it gives them a chance to further their careers. And at the same time, it helps raise money for our boxing gym and computer lab, which helps hundreds of kids every year.”

Tickets are $25 for general admission and will be available at the door or by calling Joe Hand Promotions at 1-800-557-4263 or online at wanatix.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m.

Winners of the Eastern Regional will advance to the state championships on Saturday, April 25th at the GPG Event Center in Pennsauken, NJ. The National Golden Gloves Tournament will be held May 10-17 at The Riviera in Las Vegas, NV.

There have been many Philly-area fighters who have fought in the Golden Gloves and have gone on to enjoy distinguished professional careers, such as Danny Garcia, Chazz Witherspoon, Jesse Hart, Demetrius Hopkins, Rock Allen, Shamone Alvarez and Rasheim Jefferson. Last year, Christian Carto of Deptford, N.J., advanced and won the Golden Gloves national title at 108 pounds. The previous year, West Philadelphia’s Stephen Fulton Jr., captured the national title while competing at 114 pounds.

ABOUT THE JOE HAND BOXING GYM & COMPUTER LAB
Started by Joe Hand Promotions in 1995, the Joe Hand Boxing Gym, a non-profit organization in Northern Liberties, has been a community landmark for over 19 years. Joe Hand Sr., a retired Philadelphia police detective, saw the gym as a safe place for Philly’s children and young adults to hone their skills in boxing or spend time learning computer skills for their futures.

The Joe Hand Boxing Gym offers regulation boxing rings, brand new equipment and a modern computer center where children from the community can participate in the educational process. The gym is located at 547 N. Third St., Philadelphia, PA, 19123.