Contributed photo
Coach Solomon Maye (back center) with New Haven fighting champs Amare Foster, Amir Foster, and Troy Moore.
Four young New Haven boxers traveled to Missouri to test out their “silver gloves” — and three came home bearing championship belts, after ending up on top at a national tournament.
Those pre-teen New Haven athletes made that trip across the country for the 2023 National Silver Gloves tournament at the Stoney Creek Hotel in Independence, Missouri.
The youth boxing tournament took place from Feb. 8 to Feb. 11.
The four New Haveners who participated in the tournament were 9‑year-old Michael “Duke” Rollins, 10-year-old Amare “Triple R” Foster, 12-year-old Amir “No Fear” Foster, and 12-year-old Troy “Trigga” Moore.
All four traveled with their Elm City boxing coach, Solomon Maye of Get ‘Em Boy boxing.
In a phone interview with the Independent Tuesday morning, Maye celebrated a successful trip — with three of his young boxers winning their respective weight classes, and all four growing as athletes while testing out their gloves on a national stage.
“It was exciting for them just to be in that place and watch them win,” Maye said. “Just looking at the guys, the experience that the guys go,” being in the same room with “the top fighters in the nation,” made the trip well worth it.
According to Ringside Tournaments, which sponsored the “Silver Gloves” tournament in Missouri earlier this month, Amare Foster won the championship in the 9 – 10-year-old, 80-pound male weight class; Amir Foster won the championship in the 11 – 12 year-old, 106-pound male weight class; and Troy Moore won the 11 – 12-year-old, 110-pound male weight class.
Boxing is a good outlet for youths to stay busy and disciplined instead of being out on the streets. But one of the youths goes by "Trigga?" May be indicative of how prevalent the gun culture is in the city. Congratulations to Coach Maye for his time and dedication, but maybe he could get that young champion to opt for another nickname?