Brenda Autry Journalism Blog

Every February, competitors from every corner of Oregon and every walk of life come to meet in the ring and battle for the title Oregon Golden Gloves Champion. For some, the road to this moment is long and paved with sacrifice. But still they come; with smiles on their faces and dreams in their hearts, hoping that at the end of the night they will don the blue and gold jacket that will brand them a champion forever. Golden Gloves Champions Past and Present. Photo courtesy of Kelvin Watkins Photography. Half an hour before the competition starts, the audience trickles in to fill hundreds of available seats in the large auditorium of the Salem Armory. The ring-side tables already hold a few of the more devoted boxing fans who are willing to pay a premium for the privilege of better proximity to the action. For now, the real action is behind the curtain on the stage that serves as a preparation area for tonight's fighters and their teams. Scattered across the dimly lit stage ...

In an unlikely warehouse in an industrial area on Ferry Street in Albany, something unexpected is happening. When you open the warehouse’s white metal door and hear loud thuds coming from within, you may expect to see large pieces of machinery, or other industrial equipment. Instead, you are greeted by a large boxing ring, rows of heavy bags, weight equipment, and several sets of fists flying. This is where the Boxing Club at Oregon State University  meets to practice four times a week. Brandon Martin and Quentin Storey doing boxing drills The Boxing Club at OSU began in Corvallis about seven years ago in partnership with the Corvallis Boxing Club, which is no longer in operation. They moved to their Albany location this summer, and now train in partnership with Hand Boxing Club . 20-year-old Brandon Martin, a third-year business major who is dual-enrolled at OSU and LBCC, is the club's veteran competitor. Martin started boxing two years ago and has had 12 bouts. He ...