Article and Photo by News Mississippi’s coast correspondent Todd Adams
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss.–Fighters from all over the Magnolia State will converge on the Gulf Coast this weekend, throwing punches they hope will win the Mississippi Golden Gloves Championship.
One of the boxers is 15 year old Tillar Barnes of Ocean Springs. He turns 16 on Monday, and a win would be a great birthday present. “I feel pretty confident”, said Barnes, “I think I’m gonna bring my hometown a win.”
Another fighter from the coast, 15 year old Justin Merrill, has been putting in some long hours training for the ring. “Just hard work, lots of running, and dedication”, he said.
Their coach, Keith Hughes is spearheading the competition. He said there will be 30 to 40 bouts with boxers aged fourteen to thirty-four. “I’ve also invited other states to come in”, said Hughes. Teams will be coming in from Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida.
The Golden Gloves tournament will start at 6 pm Saturday at the Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School Gym. Winners will continue on to regional bouts in Arkansas this April.
