The region’s top amateur boxers are headed to St. Cloud this weekend for the 2025 Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Championship, with Friday night semifinals and Saturday finals scheduled at The Park Event Center, located at 500 Division Street.
Fighters from Regions I through IV have punched their tickets through qualifying tournaments and now battle for regional titles—and, for elite division champions, a chance to advance to the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 11–18.
The action begins Friday, April 18, with weigh-ins starting promptly at 4 p.m. at the venue. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the first bell rings at 7 p.m.. Saturday’s finals take place April 19, with weigh-ins at 8 a.m. sharp, doors opening at 10:30 a.m., and bouts beginning at 11:30 a.m. Officials are reminded to check in ringside by 6 p.m. Friday in their official Golden Gloves shirts with the USA Boxing logo on the left sleeve.
Below is a look at Friday’s semifinal matchups:
Friday, April 18 – Semifinal Bouts
Novice Division:
- 143 lbs (Novice)
- Ojem Omot, 20, Region IV, St. Cloud GG
vs. - Blong Thao, 19, Region II, Backyard Boxing
- 143 lbs (Novice)
- Jefferson Toscano, 19, Region I, Unattached
vs. - Connor Wolf, 23, Region III, Rouge Boxing
- 154 lbs (Novice)
- Isai Penaloza-Milian, 18, Region I, COD
vs. - Mukhtar Marookfheil, 18, Region III, Barbot Boxing
- 187 lbs (Novice)
- Daniel Saucedo, 18, Region II, Padilla’s Gym
vs. - Spencer Anderson, 28, Region I, MPLS Boxing
- 198+ lbs (Novice)
- Matthew Sumner, 18, Region IV, Red Lake
vs. - Ethan Hunsucker, 24, Region II, Element
Elite Division:
- 121 lbs (Elite)
- Moo Thaw, 19, Region II, Backyard Boxing
vs. - Zaro Snyder, 33, Region I, MPLS Boxing
- 132 lbs (Elite)
- Edgar Olivo, 21, Region I, Unattached
vs. - Jose Lopez, 18, Region III, Lopez Boxing
- 143 lbs (Elite)
- Gavin Flynn, 27, Region I, MPLS Boxing
vs. - Britton Kleeb, 27, Region IV, Bemidji Boxing
- 143 lbs (Elite)
- Blessing Taniah, 20, Region II, Next Edge Academy
vs. - Rafael Lopez, 18, Region III, Lopez Boxing
- 154 lbs (Elite)
- Isaiah Abalan, 25, Region I, COD
vs. - Jerome Jackson, 19, Region III, Rouge Boxing
- 154 lbs (Elite)
- Eduardo Valenzuela, 21, Region II, Top Team
vs. - Tyson Lamb, 21, Region IV, St. Cloud GG
- 165 lbs (Elite)
- Zac O’Connor, 21, Region II, Element Gym
vs. - Devan Blakemore, 21, Region IV, Takedown Boxing
- 165 lbs (Elite)
- Ndikumwenayo Faustin, 24, Region II, Rouge Boxing
vs. - Adrew Chansa, 27, Region I, Champions Boxing
- 176 lbs (Elite)
- Antonio Varney, 23, Region III, Red Lake
vs. - Abdul Wadud, 27, Region I, Northside Boxing
- 198+ lbs (Elite)
- Manny Contreras, 34, Region II, Sir Boxing
vs. - Nathaniel Schwinghammer, 21, Region IV, Bemidji Boxing
Saturday, April 19 – Championship Finals
Saturday will feature both Novice and Elite finals, with winners of the Elite division earning a trip to the prestigious National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in Tulsa.
Early finals matchups already set include:
Novice Division:
- 121 lbs: Xiong Chingxue (Region II, Sir Boxing) vs. Alain Olivares-Grijalva (Region II, CMB)
- 132 lbs: Kenzel Williams (Region I, Champions Boxing) vs. Roman Ramos (Region II, CMB)
- 154 lbs: Cesar Moloy (Region II, Top Team) vs. TBD
- 165 lbs: Lewis Sheppard (Region II, Element Gym) vs. Isaiah Phillips (Region IV, Iron Range)
- 176 lbs: Cameron Gacheru (Region I, Unattached) vs. Andrew Kemboi (Region IV, St. Cloud B&W)
- 187 lbs: Derron Turnipseed (Region IV, Takedown Boxing) vs. TBD
- 198 lbs: Gabriel Vespasiano (Region I, MPLS Boxing) vs. Johnson Jones (Region III, Barbot Boxing)
- 198+ lbs: Madison Jenkins (Region III) vs. TBD
Matched Bout:
- Cadin Vowels (Region II, Top Team) vs. Justin Pridgeon (Region II, Longevity)
Elite Finals (Pending Friday Winners):
- 121 lbs: Aiden Bymers (Region IV, Lakes Area Boxing) vs. Winner of Moo Thaw / Zaro Snyder
- 132 lbs: TBD
- 143 lbs, 154 lbs, 165 lbs, 176 lbs, 198+ lbs: All matchups to be finalized following Friday’s semifinals.
Declared Champions (No Regional Opponent)
The following boxers were named Declared Champions due to having no regional opponent. Per Golden Gloves rules, they must still weigh in at their respective regional tournament or UMGG Championships to receive their belt or medal.
Elite Female:
- 119 lbs: Willow Stangeland – Region IV, Jungle Boy
- 125 lbs: Asiya Mohamed – Region II, Unattached
- 132 lbs: Meri Stewart – Region I, Champions Gym
Novice Female:
- 119 lbs: Anna King – Region II, Element Gym
- 132 lbs: Zarina Venter – Region II, Top Team
- 143 lbs: Scarlett Johnson – Region II, Unattached
- 165 lbs: Libby Schnoor – Region I, MPLS Boxing
- 176+ lbs: Jerica Friese – Region III, Barbot Boxing
Elite Male:
- 110 lbs: Hser Htoo – Region II, Backyard Boxing
- 187 lbs: Keiton Walerius – Region II, Next Edge Academy
- 198 lbs: Cadin Vowels – Region II, Top Team
Tickets will be available at the door both days. The Park Event Center offers the convenience of being attached to both hotels for traveling fighters and teams. Expect a high-energy atmosphere, tight competition, and a showcase of rising talent in the amateur boxing world.
