Bush-league brawlers

Celebrity-studded heavyweight title extravaganzas in Vegas can be thrilling. But for swift-moving, action-packed boxing in its purest form, look no further than the country's most famous amateur tournament, the Chicago Golden Gloves.

"There are so many good fighters at the Golden Gloves," says Open Division Middleweight Champion Dan Wolf, a 26-year-old sales rep for a medical supply company. "And amateur boxing is at two-minute rounds [three rounds for novices, four rounds in the top-level Open Division], which is a much faster pace than professional bouts."

Wolf, who has trained at Brooks Park on the Northwest Side for 11 years, prepared for his title defense by sparring with 1996 Olympic team member Darnell Wilson. They met last June when each tried out (and were passed over) for a spot on reality TV show The Contender.

Wolf joins Chicago's top 300 amateur boxers at Lakeview's historic St. Andrews Gym for an event that draws more than 15,000 spectators over three weeks.

While the renowned local bouts draw a fun-seeking neighborhood crowd, they're also a proving ground for up-and-coming talent. Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya all got their starts at the Golden Gloves, as did Chicago Olympians David Diaz and Nate Jones.

"Everyone wants to box in the Golden Gloves because of its history and prestige," says Bill Heglin, who trained several amateur champions, such as Diaz, Fres Oquendo and Angel Manfredy in his 31 years as a Hamlin Park coach.

The tournament dates back to 1923, when sportswriter Arch Ward gathered the city's best boxers at the old Chicago Stadium. The winner in each of 13 weight classes received a small golden glove. More than 400 fighters competed in that event, but due to city antiboxing laws, it was four years before another tournament could be held.

In 1928, the Chicago Tribune and the New York Daily News lent the event some legitimacy when they cosponsored the first nationwide Golden Gloves tournament. Boxers from East Coast cities traveled to New York, while fighters from the rest of the country met in Chicago. The winners from these regions met to determine the national champion in each weight division.

Today, USA Boxing, the governing body for all sanctioned amateur fights, including the Olympic trials, oversees 30 regional Golden Gloves feeders, which lead up to a nationally televised championship.

Of all the regional tournaments, Chicago remains among the most prestigious because of the high level of local talent. Almost every year, at least a few locals make it to the national finals.

Not every competitor has lofty dreams, though. To make the event more accessible to the general public, the competition offers two age-based novice categories in which recreational fighters can test their mettle.

Light-heavyweight Przemek Lubecki, a 25-year-old Loyola law student, will fight for the first time at St. Andrews.

"My wife doesn't like it one bit," laughs Lubecki. "But for me it's exciting, just being able to challenge yourself day in and day out; sparring with different people and seeing how you stack up. There's no team, so if you lose, it's your fault and if you win, your gain."

A trend this year is an increase in the number of female boxers, which has almost tripled since 2004. Like their male counterparts, female fighters come from all kinds of backgrounds. Entrants in this year's tournament include newcomer Rebecca Carl, an Evanston pediatrician; as well as former champions Tempele Smith, a college student with hot-pink hair and a teenage son, and Marilyn Syers, a Whole Foods worker who began boxing to lose the 100 pounds she gained during pregnancy.

Promoter Dominic Pesoli, from JABB Gym, believes that positive media attention and an emphasis on fitness have led more women to tie on the gloves.

"Many start out just wanting to try boxing as a different form of exercise," Pesoli says. "Some say, 'Oh yeah, I saw Million Dollar Baby and her body was awesome.'"

The mix of serious fighters with enthusiastic beginners contributes to the tournament's casual feel. Seats at St. Andrews are close to the ring, and spectators roam the floor with local celebrities, former champions, trainers and promoters, plus mingle with competitors as they warm up.

"Expect a lot of action," says Golden Gloves president Jack Cowan. "There will be a lot of people and a lot of fights. And everyone always enjoys it."