CLEVELAND — USA Boxing announced Tuesday that its first national tournament of 2022 will be in Cleveland this spring, which is expected to bring nearly 800 of the top boxers in the country to the area.
USA Boxing said that the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission submitted a competitive bid, which helped lead USA Boxing to the area.
Boxers in the elite 18-39 division will compete for spots in this year’s national championships, while all other divisions will look to earn national rankings points. The event will also draw pee wee and youth boxers to the region.
The event will be at Cleveland State’s Wolstein Center from April 23-30.
“Cleveland is thrilled to welcome the 2022 USA Boxing National Qualifier this spring as it creates an amazing opportunity to celebrate our city’s long-standing history with the sport,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “Through a strong partnership with USA Boxing and the Wolstein Center, our team is looking forward to working directly with local boxing clubs and other community organizations to make this a successful event and build on the diverse scope of events Cleveland has continually attracted.”
USA Boxing noted that three Ohioans competed in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“Cleveland possesses such a rich boxing history. Many Olympians and World Champions were molded by our community both inside and outside of the ring,” said Chris Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association director. “We are incredibly proud to welcome the next generation of champions and look forward to witnessing their beginning chapters on the road to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and beyond.”
