Sports: Golden Gloves brings state's best amateurs to town

ST. PETERSBURG -- John Knight Jr. isn't sure if the Florida Golden Gloves Championships over the weekend was his final amateur event, but if so, he made the most of it.

Knight set aside his pro aspirations for another few days to win the 147-pound weight class in a walkover Sunday at the Arena Boxing Club.

The state's central and north champions fought Friday and Saturday to advance to Sunday's finals against the south champions.

Knight was one of 16 fighters to win Sunday, when his opponent failed to appear. On Friday and Saturday he won decisions.

"There was some good competition here this weekend, some good fighters," Knight said. "You had to bring your A game for sure."

Knight, who trains at the Southside Boxing Gym in St. Petersburg, and the other state champions move on to the prestigious National Golden Gloves Championships June 15-23 in Denver.

The Arena Boxing Club's Dave Bowser said it was the first time he could remember the bay area hosting the state's most prestigious amateur event, which recently had been held in Miami.

The new club, and St. Petersburg's reputation for good fighters such as Winky Wright, Jeff Lacy and David Santos, helped land the tournament. It also helped draw fighters like Knight, 24, a firefighter stationed at MacDill Air Force Base the past four months.

"This is a place where you can get better," said Knight, who usually fights at 139 pounds but said he moved up for the challenge.

"Look at guys like (Tampa's) Nate Campbell and Winky Wright, and you know you're going to get some stiff competition around here. I'm going to make this home."

Knight plans on following Campbell and Wright into the pro ranks. He's just not sure when.

"Most definitely," Knight said. "I'm pretty close right now. People say I should go for the Olympics, but I'm getting older. I'll probably do a couple more amateur fights and then roll over (into the pros)."

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