Saturday, December 27, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ROYCE FEOUR: Golden Gloves Gym down for the count, but not forgotten

Roger Mayweather wasn't the most famous professional boxer to train regularly at the Golden Gloves Gym. But Mayweather probably represented the spirit and the tradition of the Golden Gloves Gym, which closed Tuesday after a 22-year run, as well as any fighter.

Of course, the people who most typified the spirit and tradition of the gym were its late founder Hal Miller and his late wife, Faye. Without Hal and Faye Miller, there would have been no Golden Gloves Gym for the feuding factions within the Fraternal Order of Police to be bickering over.

Mayweather, 42, was a loyal soldier in the Golden Gloves Gym. No fighter was there longer. He started training there when he came to Las Vegas from Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1981, the year the gym opened.

Mayweather began training at the gym off Washington Avenue, north of Cashman Field, as a 20-year-old and continued there through capturing world championships in the WBA super featherweight and WBC super lightweight divisions.

He also trained the young kids and amateur boxers at the gym before he became an established pro trainer.

"No question I will miss it," Mayweather said. "That is the first gym I came to when I came to Las Vegas. They made more gyms later and people had a chance to go to different gyms. But as far as the way I feel, the Golden Gloves Gym was the first gym I really trained at. I became world champion at the Golden Gloves Gym, so I will miss it.

"Hal Miller was always good, especially with the kids. ... They weren't like most of the gyms today. A gym is supposed to be for people who want to learn. ... It is supposed to be on the basis of youth. They are the future. That is what the Golden Gloves represents.

"The kids had a chance to meet the top athletes in the Golden Gloves Gym, athletes they would never get a chance to meet. They could meet Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes. Some gyms close so the kids can't get to (the famous fighters)."

I have known Mayweather for more than 20 years and have quoted him many times. But these were the most philosophical and meaningful words I ever heard him speak. I wasn't sure he had it in him. Mayweather is a "fight guy" and is an "old-school" fighter. He is not someone who would be sentimental about very many things. But the Golden Gloves Gym is one of the few. And rightfully so.

"I trained my nephew (Floyd Mayweather Jr.) for the Olympics at the Golden Gloves Gym," Mayweather said. "A gym is supposed to teach fighters how to fight. I love to train real fighters. I like to see my work in progress. Nevada Partners (which is also closing soon) is a good place, as well.

"Las Vegas is supposed to be a mecca of boxing. You should have gyms like that to give the kids the opportunity at a fair price to go in and train even if they don't have the money. I don't know where I would have been if it weren't for boxing. Boxing is my life. Boxing is what kept my interest. Kids learn not only to defend themselves but learn to keep themselves in shape. I love those gyms and they are going to be missed."

Dropping by the Golden Gloves Gym on its final day was nostalgic and sad. David Moody, head of the Golden Gloves, has made arrangements for the kids to train at Barry's Boxing Gym. Pat Barry is a good man and the kids will be taken care of. But the Golden Gloves Gym will be missed.

Royce Feour's boxing column is published Saturday. He can be reached by phone at 383-0354, fax at 383-4676 or e-mail at rfeour@reviewjournal.com.