of the Olympic sports. The lights, the ring,
the boxers, the action-packed excitement and
the thrill of competition constitutes the
mental picture the general public has of
Olympic-style boxing.
Behind the scenes of competition is a large
national network that administers, governs and
regulates the sport of Olympic-style boxing in
the United States. This conglomeration of
athletes, officials, coaches, administrators,
medical personnel and enthusiasts is United
States Amateur Boxing, Inc.
USA Boxing, as the National Governing Body for
Olympic-style boxing, is the United States'
member organization of the International
Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA). USA Boxing
is responsible for the administration,
development and promotion of Olympic-style
boxing in the United States.
With its headquarters in Colorado Springs,
Colo., USA Boxing sponsors a host of programs,
from developing the sport and its athletes at
the local, regional and national levels, to
sponsoring national and international dual
competitions and selecting teams for
international events, including the Olympic
Games, World Championships and Pan American
Games.
USA Boxing, formerly known as the United States
Amateur Boxing Federation, has governed men's
amateur boxing in the United States since 1888.
USA Boxing sponsors not only national and
international competitions, but also clinics
and training camps to help athletes and coaches
learn international techniques.
USA Boxing comprises 56 Local Boxing Committees
(LBCs), which are grouped into 14 geographical
regions. These LBCs, along with the coaches,
athletes and officials, form the backbone of
USA Boxing and Olympic-style boxing in the
United States.
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USA Boxing's Programs
USA Boxing sponsors three national
championships annually: the U.S. Championships,
the U.S. Junior Championships and the U.S.
Junior Olympic Championships, as well as
numerous inter-nation and international
competitions. USA Boxing also sponsors training
camps for the top boxers across the country so
they may train and practice under the top
coaches.
The training camps are frequently held at the
U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs, where USA Boxing maintains a permanent
training facility.
To assist coaches and officials in learning the
best and most up-to-date techniques, USA Boxing
sponsors clinics staffed by outstanding coaches
and officials not only from the United States,
but also from around the world. USA Boxing also
hosts medical clinics and seminars for
physicians, athletes, coaches and officials.
Young boxers get their start in amateur boxing
through the Junior Olympics, a developmental
program for boxers ages eight to 16. Junior
Olympics features local, LBC and regional
championships, culminating with the U.S. Junior
Olympic Championships in June. The Junior
Olympics cultivates the reservoir of talent
that supplies our Olympic gold medalists and
national champions of tomorrow.
USA Boxing's most innovative program is
Operation Gold. Started in 1982, Operation Gold
is designed not only to aid the country's best
athletes in developing their techniques and
skills, but also to assist in their personal
growth. Operation Gold enabled the United
States to have teams in the past three
Olympiads that competed equally with those from
state-supported countries.
The top-ranked amateurs in the United States
are invited to participate in Operation Gold,
funded by USA Boxing, the U.S. Olympic
Committee and private and corporate donations.
The program provides participants with
incentive to continue perfecting their boxing
skills, while motivating others to improve
their skills so that they can join the program.
USA Boxing also sponsors a scholarship fund for
its registered athletes. Awarded annually, the
scholarships are granted not for athletic
ability, but on the basis of an athlete's
academic record and ability to succeed at an
institution of higher learning. The
scholarships may be used for a college,
university or vocational school.