IOC Announces 2010 Youth Olympic Games

The Youth Olympic Games aim to bring together talented athletes – aged from 14 to 18 - from around the world to participate in high-level competitions. The first ever Summer Youth Olympic Games will bring together approximately 3,200 athletes and 800 officials in 2010. The sports programme will encompass all 26 sports on the programme of the 2012 Summer Games, with a limited number of disciplines and events. The first Winter Youth Olympic Games will bring together around 1,000 athletes and 500 officials. The athletes will compete – for the first time in 2012 - in all seven Olympic Winter Sports. The YOG follow the traditional cycle of four years, with Summer Games in 2010, 2014, 2018, etc and Winter Games in 2012, 2016, 2020, etc. The 2010 games will be held in Singapore.

There are only a few Summer Olympic events that will not be part of the YOG, so boxing will more than likely be included. This is a great opportunity for boxers whose ages fall short of allowing them to contend for the 2012 games.

2008 USA Boxing Keenan Smith vs. Marcus Springs

Keenan Smith (Middle Atlantic) vs. Marcus Springs (Virginia) in 125lbs. division at the 2008 USA Boxing East Central Region Tournament from Bel Air, Maryland. Smith is in the Red corner.

Bobby Bryant (Region 6) vs. Armondo Gallegos (Region 7)Bobby Bryant (Region 6) vs. Armondo Gallegos (Region 7)

Bobby Bryant vs. Armondo Gallegos in the 14/15 year old 139lbs. division the 2008 National Silver Gloves Tournament in Independence, Missouri. Bobby is in the blue corner.

Zimmie (SRL) vs. Israel Chavez (NC)

January/2008. Zimmie vs. Israel in semi-final bout at 2008 East Coast Regional Tournament. Zimmie is in the red corner.

Marcus (SRL) vs. Hakim Johnson (SC)

January/2008. Marcus vs. Hakim in semi-final bout at 2008 East Coast Regional Tournament. Marcus is in the blue corner.

Chris (SRL) vs. Nicholas Torrance (GA)

January/2008.Chris vs. Nicholas in semi-final bout at 2008 East Coast Regional Tournament. Chris is in the red corner.

Pat (Headbangers) vs. Ricky Tomlinson (FL)

January/2008. Pat vs. Ricky in semi-final bout at 2008 East Coast Regional Tournament. Pat is in the blue corner.

Parris (Nomis) vs. Deandre Robinson-Neal (SC)

January/2008. Parris "Bay" vs. Deandre in semi-final bout at 2008 East Coast Regionals. Parris is in the blue corner.

1st Annual Belfast-Beltway Boxing Classic

The Nation's Capitol will play host to the first annual "Belfast-Beltway Boxing Classic" amateur boxing event on Saturday, January 26 at the Westin Washington, DC City Center Hotel, 1400 M Street,NW in DC. Boxers from the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD, will face off against boxers representing three boxing clubs in Northern Ireland in a charitable tournament that will raise money to benefit the participating gyms. The three gyms that will visit from Ireland have interesting stories: The Ardoyne Holy Cross (AHC) Boxing Club was reopened in 2003 after a seven year hiatus by seven fathers in Belfast as a way of getting youth off the streets and out of trouble. With suicide rates among teenage boys in Northern Ireland higher than in the entire United Kingdom, the AHC Boxing Club provides a safe and structured environment for youth. More than 140 boys from 7 to 20 years in age came out for the AHC Boxing Club's first meeting. Located in the basement of the Holy Cross Church in the Ardoynesection of Belfast, the boys not only learn the fundamentals of boxing, they are taught discipline, respect and responsibility. Former WBA Welterweight Champion Eamon McGee is an Ardoyne native and can be found helping the fighters train on occasion. Since 2003, the AHC has participated in 20 boxing tournaments. The Cairn Lodge Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) in Belfast and the Albery Foundry ABC in Newtonabbey will also send boxers to fight for the team from Northern Ireland. Both clubs are members of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. As an example of the extraordinary political progress that has been made in Northern Ireland in recent times, the boxers traveling to the United States as a team will represent both the catholic and protestant traditions.

Here are 9 of the bouts from the night of boxing in this playlist.

What You Will Find On This Blog

This blog is to help share boxing videos from Sugar Ray Leonard Gym in Palmer Park, MD. You will find that the blog is updated with videos from past and current shows constantly. Visit www.youtube.com/sugarrayleonardgym to see all the videos.