USA Boxing President Predicts "Golden Age"

(ATR) USA Boxing President Charles Butler tells Around the Rings heplans to restore boxing in the United States to its "golden age".

Butler brings decades of experience around amateur boxing to his position. His interest in boxing started at an early age, he tells ATR.

"My father was three times Golden Glove Champion in the 1930s," he says.

Growing up in New York, Bulter and his father would attend matches at the Golden Glove in St. Nick's Arena. His passion for the sport grew over the years: "I just never gave it up."

Aside from his amateur boxing experience, Butler used his cardiothoracic surgery background to serve on the USA Boxing medical commission. He also helped to establish the American Board of Ringside Medicine. Butler has served on USA Boxing’s Board of Directors since 2010 and took over the role of president in 2012.

The new board of directors was seated on June 24, and Butler was appointed to remain on as president.

Following a disappointing performance in the 2012 London Olympics, USA Boxing faces several challenges going forward.

"Our focus is to do things right," Butler tells ATR, "to focus on fundamentals.

"We have to provide for the athletes, recruitment, training, [and] discipline."

Butler says he feels changes need to begin at a structural level: "We have to look internally to see what we've been doing wrong.

"I want to teach our athletes boxing as a way of life," Butler adds, "…help them learn values so that they can go out and they can contribute to the community after their career in boxing is over."

Butler tells ATR he intends to raise the bar for athletes as well as for coaches: "good coaching is safe coaching.

Athlete safety is a primary goal for Butler and his new board of directors.

Safe sparring and safe training practices, as well as educational programs for referees and judges, will prevent injuries and allow officials to "recognize any health problems an athlete might have early," he explains.

Butler says he will also pursue initiatives to strengthen grass roots clubs throughout the country.

"They need help in recruiting," Butler says. "We're getting a task force to help build grass roots. These are our local gymnasiums; everything starts there."

Butler adds: "Funding is a major problem in the United States. We have to work on that. We have to look at private sources. Hopefully we can find sponsorships for our kids. We work on a shoe string compared to the budgets of other countries."

Bottom Up Boxing

Bruce Silverglade owns the historic Gleason’s Gym in New York City, and has 35 years of experience around amateur boxing. He agrees with Butler’s vision for local gymnasiums.

"The organization has to be worked from the bottom up, not from the top down," Silverglade explains to ATR.

"You can’t get good fighters if they don’t come from the grass roots level. If you make the grass roots healthy then the cream that rises to the top will be much better, much more seasoned, and much more able to win at international and Olympic competitions."

Butler echoes Silverglade’s thoughts on USA Boxing’s role in the international community.

"For many years we've been very isolated,"Butler says. "And it's very hard to compete in boxing if you're not part of the international community, or if you don't have international experience.

"This year we've set up 19 international competitions for the United States. We're trying to get money to fund those competitions to get those athletes overseas."

Butler will maintain his position on USA Boxing’s board as the AIBA Director. He is also currently the working chair of AIBA’s Medical Commission.

AIBA President C. K. Wu acknowledges USA Boxing’s need for a "profound reform" following its three-month suspension in October 2012.

In a statement, Wu welcomes the new USA Boxing board of directors, as well as a "bright new era for the sport of boxing in the USA".

Butler reminisces about an era in which boxing prevailed throughout the country: "Boxing was the second most popular sport in the United States from 1860 through the 1970s."

Silverglade notes the "outstanding Olympic and world championship teams" from 1976, 1980, and 1984.

"It’s something that we can have, because we’ve had it in the past."

Silverglade adds: "You can’t just take a couple fighters and send them to a camp and think that they’re going to develop into good fighters. It has to start when they’re youngsters."

USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky recognizes USA Boxing’s challenges in a statement made to ATR. However, he affirms that the USOC is "optimistic that new leadership will help affect positive change and growth in amateur boxing in the U.S."

Written by Nicole Bennett.

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