Boxing has taken 17-year-old Ryan Martin a lot of places he had never been before, and next month the Central High School sophomore will be heading to the other side of the world to represent the United States.
But this weekend he’ll be doing what he does best in his own school gymnasium.
Martin will be in featured bouts both nights of the 74th annual Chattanooga Golden Gloves tournament. Starting at 8 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday, it is being held at Central High for the first time.
Four Central students and one from neighboring Brown Middle School will be among the West Side Knockouts’ 12 entrants. Among several “definite up-and-comers,” according to coach Andy Smith, West Side even has two girls taking part. LaShonda Williams is set to fight Friday, and an opponent tentatively is lined up Saturday for Emily Dagnan.
The Red Bank Boxing Club also has a girl entered. Kat Sledge will take on Sarah Abernathy from Gadsden, Ala., as part of Friday’s card.