Fans of amateur youth boxing in Western Pennsylvania will have something to be thankful for next week as the Pittsburgh Silver Gloves Tournament will take place on Nov. 25 at Elks Lodge No. 11 in Lincoln Place near West Mifflin.

The event, sanctioned by USA Boxing and presented by Pittsburgh Amateur Boxing and Machi Entertainment, will showcase top up-and-coming pugilists between the ages of 8 and 15 from Erie to Johnstown, West Virginia to the Ohio border.

Sixteen tournament bouts are on the card, along with additional non-tournament contests. Each fight is scheduled for three rounds, featuring competitors from 45 to 201 pounds.

Winners of the tournament bouts will advance to the Pennsylvania State Silver Gloves Tournament, scheduled for Dec. 12 in Munhall. From there, fighters move on to the 2010 Regional Silver Gloves Tournament near Lexington, Ken.

Among local boxers scheduled to compete are a pair of fighters who took part in the 2009 National Championships last February in Independence, Mo.

Shawn Cusick, a 13-year-old from South Park, will be fighting in the 12-13 age classification at 85 pounds. Joining him will be Carter Cherry, an 11 year-old from Monroeville who will to go toe-to-toe in the 10- to 11-year-old bracket at 85 pounds.

Also: Matt Conway, a freshman at Baldwin High School, will fight at 112 pounds in the 14-15 age group. Conway nearly advanced to the regionals last year in Cincinnati before losing because of a coaching technicality.

Luke Gloeckl, a student at Brentwood High School, and R.J. Price from Steel Valley round out the notable competitors. Both will compete in the 14-15 group at 119 pounds.

The Silver Gloves tournament is the nation's second-largest amateur tournament next to the Golden Gloves. Unlike the Goldens, which are open to adults, the Silver Gloves place an emphasis on developing younger boxers to give them a better chance to succeed at regional and national tournaments.

Scott Bradley, the tournament promoter and Pennsylvania Silver Gloves director, said all proceeds from next week's tournament will go toward travel expenses for local fighters advancing to the regional and national championships.

Last year, 16 local fighters moved on from the state tournament to the regionals, with six reaching the nationals. The total cost to send the boxers and their coaches eclipsed $4,000. Bradley said he hopes to raise $5,000 in ticket sales this year.

"The bottom line is we only have one chance to raise the money we need to send these kids to the regionals and nationals," he said. "Usually, Thanksgiving week is a great time to hold the Silver Gloves event. We get a lot of people to watch the fights because everyone is off [work] and families are all in town."

General admission seats are $15, with ringside seats $20. Silverside VIP tables are also available. Elks Lodge 11 is located at 5800 Buttermilk Hollow Road. Doors open at 6 p.m. in advance of the 7 p.m. start.

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