Top amateur Michigan boxers are among the hundreds in Detroit this week competing in a major boxing competition.
Some of the winners this week will qualify for the U.S. Olympic trials later this year.
The event is the second qualifier to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 13 weight categories, divided among male and female boxers.
Mike Campbell is the event manager. He says the young boxers don’t have to look far for inspiration.
“We’ll be competing right behind....the larger-than-life statue of Joe Louis,” said Campbell, “It’s almost like having a deity or a statue of Zeus here in front of us to give us inspiration.”
Over 100 boxers from the state of Michigan are registered to represent the host state throughout the week, including Thomas Covington (Detroit), 2022 USA Boxing Youth National Champion; Kahlil Harvey (Canton), 2022 USA Boxing Junior National Champion; Jasmine Hampton (Ann Arbor), 2022 USA Boxing Elite National Championships bronze medalist; and Justin Lacey-Pierce (Grand Rapids), 2021 USA Boxing Elite National Champion.
The national qualifier tournament begins Monday at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit. The championship bouts are scheduled for Saturday.
