Joe Smith is overseeing a U.S. boxing team for competition outside the country.Chattanooga’s Joe Smith again is overseeing a United States boxing team for competition outside the country.
This time it’s the first USA women’s team going to an international Olympics qualifying tournament — the Americas qualifier in Montreal, Canada. The president of Chattanooga Golden Gloves Charities will be accompanying 10 U.S. representatives trying to earn their way to London in three weight classes.
Smith was the U.S. team manager for the Beijing Olympics.
He will be leaving Sunday — after the 76th annual Chattanooga Golden Gloves event Saturday night — for a week of training for the women at Colorado Springs. Then they’ll fly to Montreal for the April 2-8 tournament that includes fighters from 20 countries.
“It is exciting. It is an honor, especially considering that this is the first time the Olympics has ever included women’s boxing,” said Smith, a member of the Tennessee Athletic Commission. “I’ve been to Toronto a couple of times, but I’ve never been to Montreal, so I’m looking forward to that.