Our History
The Silver Gloves of America Association was started in Illinois in 1967 by Frank Hess and the late Frank Granados, and has run a national tournament every year since.
The National Silver Gloves Association has run a national championship every year since 1967. Eight regions, fifty states, and a path from your local gym to a national title.
Silver Gloves runs amateur boxing tournaments for kids ages 8–16, with a clear path from the local gym to a national title at three levels.
The country is divided into eight Silver Gloves regions covering all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Boxers start at state and regional level, organized by each region’s director and state representatives, who set the dates and entry details. Find your state’s Silver Gloves representative and regional director.
Each year boxers from every region meet at the National Silver Gloves Championships, presented by Ringside and held in the Kansas City, Missouri area since 1992. At the 2026 nationals in Independence, Missouri, 163 national champions were crowned — see the full 2026 National Silver Gloves results.
Boxers compete in six divisions — PeeWee 8, PeeWee, Bantam, Intermediate, Junior and Youth — with separate brackets for girls and boys and a range of weight classes in each.
Every boxer brings a boxing passbook to check-in, and every coach working a corner must be a current USA Boxing registered and certified coach.
On every day of the national championships, each boxer scheduled to box weighs in and passes a physical that morning, and a boxer over their division’s weight limit is disqualified. Boxers who are unopposed in their bracket do not need to attend: their medals are mailed.
How to compete in Silver Gloves: entry, divisions and weigh-in rules
Silver Gloves is organized into eight regions. Select your state on the map, or pick a region below, to find its director and state representatives.
Silver Gloves has partnered with Ringside since 1992. To become a sponsor, contact us.
The 59th Annual National Silver Gloves Championships, presented by Ringside.
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Independence, Missouri · 163 national champions crowned
The Silver Gloves of America Association was started in Illinois in 1967 by Frank Hess and the late Frank Granados, and has run a national tournament every year since.
Silver Gloves boxers who have graduated high school or earned a GED may apply for a scholarship paid directly to their college or trade school.
Every national champion from 1995 onwards — 2,964 records, searchable by name, state and region.