A Night at the Fights
BY MARCUS HENRY
Boxing is dead? I had trouble even writing that phrase, especially after what I saw at the 81st Annual New York Golden Gloves Finals at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.
Over 5,000 spectators packed the theater at MSG to witness the future of New York boxing. And the fighters on the card didn’t disappoint.
Fighters from all walks of life, from physical trainers, to high school students, to research scientists and teachers, took part in a great night at the fights. One local fighter on the card was Connetquot high school senior Kathleen "Kitty" Walsh. Although Walsh came away with a defeat in the 138-pound division, she showed a lot of spirit and helped put on one of the night’s most exciting bouts.
In the 132-pound novice championship Hicksville’s Anthony Karperis scored the first and only title for Long Island as he topped Marlon Charlton.
IN OTHER LOCAL MATCHES: Central Islip’s Allen Littlejohn lost a decision to Anthony Caramanno in the 152-pound novice championship…Livingstone Joseph topped Mike Brooks (Freeport) in the 141-pound open championship…
STAR SEARCH: No sport or team (except the Knicks when they are good) brings out the stars like boxing. And the Golden Gloves had its share of them. Iran "The Blade" Barkley, the only man to beat Tommy Hearns twice, was in the house. Motion picture star Ethan Hawke was also in attendance. Soprano’s star Lorraine Bracco, Roberto Alomar and former WBA welterweight champion Mark Breland were also on hand. Giants running back Brandon Jacobs got the loudest ovation. And don’t think the stars were of the Johnny-come-lately variety. Hawke, Jacobs and Alomar stayed until the very end.
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