E.Paul Kelly Jr/
Chairman
The first time I actually laced up real boxing gloves and boxed in a real
boxing ring was when I was 8 yrs. Old! I was invited by my older cousins to
weigh-ins and someone didn’t show up for a pre matched bout, so I filled in and
won my first boxing match! After that moment I was hooked into boxing for the
rest of my life (51 of 59 yrs.)!
The most influential sport in my life, BOXING gave me the determination,
ambition, mental drive, and attitude to be successful in life! I give thanks to my
lord and savior, JESUS CHRIST, to have been blessed for the changing sports
moments, that have helped me evolve into the man I am today!
To me The Colorado Golden Gloves is the epitome of what we all strive to
accomplish in amatuer sports. Just to be involved makes us all champions! You
gain a sense of pride, to be apart of something bigger than life!
Truly blessed,
E.Paul Kelly Jr.
Chairman Colorado Golden Gloves
Jesse Mora/ Interim Chairman
A product of Northeast, Denver Jesse began his boxing career in 1957. Being a talented young boxer earned him a full ride scholarship in one of Colorado’s prestige Catholic high schools. After having an outstanding record boxing from 1957-1969, he then turned coach. Taking several teams to winning State Regional Titles.
Jesse worked tirelessly for Colorado to have its own Golden Gloves Franchise, which he succeeded in 1995.
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation from 1957-2020 to those who supported me all these years of my involvement; boxers, coaches, officials and the families who help support the Colorado Golden Gloves program. My present and past board members who keep the hard work progressing. A special thank you to my family for all these years of support.
In Closing, I have been stepping aside for the past two years, this will be my final yea. It has been such a wonderful time in all the years of my involvement.
Thank you for all your friendship and support.”
-Jesse Mora
Tiarra Martinez/ Secretary
Tiarra Martinez is passionate about serving our community. She is a Denver native and grew up serving others by being actively involved in community organizations in Northside Denver.
Additionally she has over 10 years in the Health Care field, and over 5 years in Commercial Construction recruiting and applies that experience to helping others also.
She loves helping change lives for the better!
Jeanne depriest/ Treasurer
I first became involved in amateur boxing in 1986 as a Coach with my soon to be Husband (1987), Glenn DePriest, founder of the Loveland Boxing Club, Inc Team, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. From there, we began our journey together with the many rewards of assisting youth
in their endeavors to make their own dreams and goals come true.
I have true compassion and a huge heart for our sport of amateur boxing. I love watching our boxers reach their goals, not only to be the very best athlete, but to also be the very best individual they can
be in life and to be proud of what they stand for. My goal has always been to teach our youth not only the sport of amateur boxing, but the art of self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-discipline. I am a volunteer and it is reward enough for me to watch these “kids” put their all into meeting or exceeding their own goals and expectations for their precious future.
I have always wanted to make a difference in the lives of these athletes. I stepped up to many different positions in amateur boxing, so that I could try and assist the athletes in making their dreams be realized and to be heard. To name a few: I currently hold the position of Treasurer for the
Colorado Golden Gloves and Franchise Holder for the Colorado/New Mexico Golden Gloves. It was an honor bestowed on me in 2019 by my mentor, Jesse Mora. I also hold the position of President, for the USA Boxing, Colorado Association.
The reason for my taking an active part in amateur boxing is because my goal will always be to step up and make a difference for the good of the sport. I am a team player and I know how important it
is to take everyone’s opinion and mold it into the whole picture. It certainly takes all of us to make the sport of amateur boxing be the best that it can be!
Clarence C. Edwards
(C.C.)
Chief of Officials
Clarence C. Edwards born in New Orleans, La in 1949. Graduated from Second Ward High School in Edgard La. Honorably discharged from the US Army in 1973. Graduated from Pike Peak Community College, Colorado Springs with a associate degree. Join the Denver Police Department in 1977 and retired in 2007. Boxed for Denver Police department for 10 year and coached Officers. Created the the Denver Police Brotherhood Youth Boxing Program with Det. Leroy Miller in 1996. Gym located at 2090 South Bannock Street.
Bruce Allen Danford
Board Member
Born in 1955, Mr. Danford was a late-comer to boxing with his first matches at age 30 years. Subsequent to this late start in the Chicago area, he began coaching and officiating. In 1997 he decided to work towards a lifetime dream of being a lawyer and began attending law school. In 2001, after obtaining two law degrees, Mr. Danford moved to Arvada and shortly thereafter began the practice of law. When asked, Mr. Danford stated “Boxing gave so much to me in the benefits of hard work, striving for goals, and overcoming obstacles, I can repay only a small amount.”
Adrian Martinez/Member
A Colorado native, Adrian Martinez was first introduced to the sport of boxing by his grandfather Abelino Martinez. Adrian was raised by his grandparents in Clare Gardens, where his grandfather, a past Colorado Golden Gloves and professional boxer would teach him the ropes. His first memory of boxing was working out and sparring in the Clare Garden’s gym. Adrian said as a young kid he loved boxing but didn’t like to get hit. After the gym closed, he shifted his spare time to other sports such as football and baseball playing for the Pal Hawks. Adrian remembers the only boxing he did at this time was sparring from time to time, when his friends needed a sparring partner and workouts with his grandfather. Until his freshman year in high school when he decided he wanted to get in better shape and boxing was the perfect way do to just that. He found a place to train at Sloan’s Lake Boxing where he worked out but did not compete, one of his only regrets in life.
Adrian found it hard to stay focused and keep training due to the issues most kids face growing up in low income areas, gangs and trouble. Like so many other kids this would tug on him until it would pull him away from the sport of boxing and get him in to some trouble. He would come to a crossroads in his life where he had to make a choice, continue with gangs and trouble and end up just another statistic or shift focus. With amazing people around him persuading him to do the right thing, Mr. Martinez decided school and family would be his new focus. Using the hard work and dedication his grandfather pasted on to him through boxing. He would go on to graduate from Red Rock’s Community College with Honors and a GPA of 3.96, his focus now became family and his 20 year plus career in Engineering Technology.
Mr. Martinez was asked to help coach at Delgado’s Boxing Academy and join the Colorado Golden Gloves Charities Inc. board of directors by E. Paul Kelly in late 2017. Adrian is also a certified official with USA boxing. He admits that this was one of his best decisions he ever made. Not only does he get to be part of the sport he loved as a kid, but he gets to give back to his community and changes lives of kids that grew up with a similar background.
He dedicates all of what he does for the Colorado Golden Gloves in the memory of his late grandfather,
Abelino “Abe” Martinez.