California State Golden Gloves Championship Opens Today at Victory Park

The City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and California Golden Gloves are hosting the Annual California State Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament this weekend at Victory Park Recreation Center, 2575 Paloma St.

Competition begins at noon today, Saturday, April 11, and continues at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 12. Top-level male and female amateur boxers ages 18 and older from across California will compete for state titles and a berth in the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, scheduled for May 11–16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The California Golden Gloves operates through four regional branches — Northern California, Central California, Southern California and Cal-Border — each of which holds qualifying tournaments. Regional champions from all four branches advance to the state championship, which serves as the final gateway to nationals for Open division winners.

Among the competitors is Pasadena’s own Adriana Nuñez, a product of the city’s Villa Parke Boxing Program. Nuñez, a Pasadena High School graduate, began boxing at 13 or 14 after her mother enrolled her in the program. At the 2025 state championship, held at the same venue, her opponent did not appear and she was unable to compete under tournament rules that required an actual bout to advance.

The tournament is sanctioned by USA Boxing and conducted under Olympic-style amateur boxing rules — three rounds of three minutes each, scored by five judges. A ringside physician is required at all times.

The event is organized by Fausto De La Torre, the California Golden Gloves Delegate in Charge, who also serves as head boxing specialist at the Villa Parke Boxing Program — a position he has held for more than 30 years. The Villa Parke program, based at the Villa Parke Community Center at 363 East Villa St., dates to the 1940s and currently has more than 300 active members. It is considered one of the oldest boxing gymnasiums in Southern California.

Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services Koko Panossian has said there is growing demand for the city’s boxing program.

General admission is $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 10 and under. Tickets are available at the door only; no advance sales. Victory Park Recreation Center: (626) 744-7500.