Rule Modifications

Golden Gloves of America, Inc. is the National Organization for Golden Gloves in the United States. The Organization currently consists of 30 franchises that have designated Franchise territories in which they conduct their competitions. Franchises are awarded to local organizations interested in the promotion and betterment of amateur boxing. Franchise territories are defined by maps and descriptions kept on file by the Golden Gloves of America territorial committee. Each Franchise has a delegate that represents their Franchise at the National level. It is the objective of each Franchise to conduct local club shows and/or tournaments and to conduct annual tournaments each year for male and female athletes in their Franchise area culminating in a regional tournament wherein their champions are selected to participate in the annual National Golden Gloves tournament.

It is the intent and request of Golden Gloves of America, Inc. that the rule modifications listed below as they relate to Golden Gloves elite male and female competitions (ages 18 through 40) be approved and filed by USA Boxing for use as the master template for all Golden Gloves competitions throughout the United States.

All USA Boxing technical and competition rules will apply to all Golden Gloves members and events with the following modifications.

1. 1.All sanctions for Golden Gloves advancing tournament events will utilize USA Boxing’s online internet application. The sanction fee schedule will be based on the Local Boxing Committee’s (LBC) USA Boxing National Office annually approved sanction fee plus a discounted fixed additional competition day rate. The sanction fee is the USA Boxing and approved LBC standard sanction fee, plus $150.00 per additional competition day. Example: Colorado Golden Gloves is scheduled to be a three-day tournament. The first day is the standard sanction fee for a club show, $328. The second and third days of competition would be $150 per night, $150 x 2 = $300. The total sanction fee would be $328 + $300 = $628.
2. 2.All Golden Gloves events that involve international participants shall complete international club exchange documents along with USA Boxing’s online internet sanction application.
3. 3.Golden Gloves shall structure the age categories for male and female athletes for advancement from Local to Regional and National levels to align with USA Boxing’s age groups. Age is determined by the boxer’s year of birth. All boxers must have reached their 18th birthday by the start of their local Golden Gloves tournament. Current age determination for elite boxers is 18 through 40. Contested weight classes at the time of filing: male boxers 112, 125, 139, 147, 156, 165, 176, 189, 203 and 203+ lbs; female boxers 106, 114, 125, 132, 139, 146, 154, 165, 178 and 178+ lbs. (The divisions contested at the 2026 Tournament of Champions are set out in the Policies and Procedures, section 2.)
4. 4.Golden Gloves boxers will have a minimum 10 bout requirement to be eligible to compete at the National Tournament of Champions. State and regional events will use safety and coach’s discretion to determine what class a boxer participates in while acknowledging the minimum bout requirement for competing at the national tournament.
5. 5.Golden Gloves will hold weigh-ins on each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be conducted by knowledgeable Golden Gloves staff and/or officials, who are current USA Boxing members. Boxers will be allowed to weigh in twice during the designated weigh-in period to make weight.
6. 6.All boxers with 10 bouts or greater must box 3, 3-minute rounds. Golden Gloves may set a shorter duration for the length of rounds for novice boxers at their events.
7. 7.Each Golden Gloves Franchise and Golden Gloves of America will designate their own Chief of Officials for their advancing competitions. All designated Chiefs of Officials must hold a current Official In Charge Certification or assign a certified OIC to serve in that role. The designated Golden Gloves Chief of Officials will be responsible for the assignments of all their event officials. This rule modification does not supersede USA Boxing rules for right to participate and should not be interpreted to give the Golden Gloves Chief of Officials the authority to modify or change USA Boxing technical or competition rules. All assigned officials must be currently registered and certified members of USA Boxing. Only level 2 officials and above will be allowed to officiate at National tournaments.
8. 8.Golden Gloves will use 5 judges to judge bouts, however, may use 3 judges at the local and regional competitions if 5 judges are not available. The 10-point must system will be used for scoring all bouts.
9. 9.Golden Gloves will require officials working Golden Gloves events to wear Golden Gloves of America officials’ uniforms.
10. 10.Golden Gloves boxers shall not be required to wear uniforms to match the corner color (red or blue). They may wear local team colors during Franchise tournaments or shows and shall be required to wear uniforms of the colors designated for their Franchise during National competition.
11. 11.Golden Gloves boxers shall be required to wear USA Boxing approved competition headgear in all competitions. Boxers will have their own choice of colors. All Open class advancing boxers will be required to wear open-faced headgear in all competitions at the state, regional and national tournaments.
12. 12.Golden Gloves boxers shall use the following competition gloves in all competitions: 10 oz up to the 139 lb weight class; 12 oz for the 146 lb and above weight classes.
13. 13.Golden Gloves will have oversight of their competitions and shall conduct their events using the rules, policies and procedures contained in this document in conjunction with all USA Boxing technical and competition rules. Golden Gloves of America Executive Committee reserves the right to request additions, delete or modify these rules, policies and procedures to enable the organization to conduct its competitions consistent with Golden Gloves traditional standards, as long as the request is made in writing to the USA Boxing Executive Director at least 30 days in advance of the start of any local, regional or national tournament. If the request is granted the Golden Gloves of America Executive Committee, LBC President and LBC Chief of Officials will be notified in writing.
14. 14.Golden Gloves of America, Inc. Constitution and Bylaws, which are a matter of record, contain additional information on the Golden Gloves Organization and the conduct of the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions.
15. 15.Any questions or additional information required regarding Golden Gloves activities should be directed to the Golden Gloves of America Executive Committee through the national office. This information is subject to change and will be updated if necessary.