CHICAGO - April 7, 2023 -- Zachary Carter, an 18-year-old finance major and wrestler at Elmhurst University, will be fighting for the title of Chicago Golden Gloves champion on Saturday, April 15th at 7 p.m. at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, IL.
Carter, who was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from Lindblom High School, has been boxing since he was 10 years old. He fights out of the Ring of Hope boxing gym, where he is also an assistant coach. He is one of the top amateur boxers in the city and has won several local and regional tournaments.
Carter will be taking on Everett Olivares, a tough opponent from the west side of Chicago, in the finals of the men's 147lbs Open Elite division of the 100th anniversary of the prestigious Golden Gloves boxing tournament. The Golden Gloves is one of the oldest and most respected amateur boxing events in the country, and has produced many world champions and Olympians.
Carter had a first-round bye in the preliminaries and then defeated Michael Brown in the quarter-finals and Lane Hamlin in the semi-finals. He is confident that he can win the coveted Golden Gloves trophy and advance to the national tournament.
"I'm ready for this. I've been training hard and I have a lot of support from my family, friends, coaches and teammates. I want to make Elmhurst University proud and show everyone what I can do in the ring," Carter said.
Carter is not only a talented boxer, but also a dedicated student and a leader on campus. He is a recipient of the Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship, which recognizes students who demonstrate a commitment to social justice and civic engagement. He is also interested in starting an Elmhurst University Boxing Club, where students can learn the sweet science and compete against other college boxing teams around the country.
"Boxing is more than just a sport. It's a way of life. It teaches you discipline, respect, courage and perseverance. It also helps you develop skills that are useful in any field or career. I want to share my passion for boxing with other students and create a community of fighters who can support each other and have fun," Carter said.
Elmhurst University students and faculty are invited to attend the Chicago Golden Gloves finals and cheer for Carter as he represents the Bluejays in the ring. Tickets are available online at www.chicagogoldengloves.com or at the door. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero, IL 60804.
You can follow Zachary Carter on Instagram @thezacharycarter1
To find out more about the Ring of Hope Chicago please visit our website.