Local boxers advance to National Golden Gloves Championships
Setting up an opponent in a recent boxing match on her way to qualifying for the National Golden Gloves Championships next week in Tulsa, Okla., Sydney Houston, left, a stay-at-home mother, will fight in the 119-pound Bantamweight division. Photo- Steve Badgley
MADISON- Both Bradley Belt and Sydney Houston have advanced to the National Golden Gloves Boxing Championships in Tulsa, Okla. May 11-15.
Fighting out of Rocket City Boxing, both Belt and Houston advanced to the national spotlight by winning their divisions at the Regional Golden Gloves Tournament held last month in Homewood as each posted unanimous decision victories.
Belt, 27, will step into the ring in the heavyweight division weighing in at 198 pound. A one-time D-1 recruit playing basketball and football at James Clemens High, Belt has all the character traits you would want in a fighter. He defends punches with amazing footwork slipping punches with ease. He’s regarded very athletic with a large frame within his 6-foot-2 body.
Houston was a two-time All-State basketball player at Tanner High where she helped the Lady Rattlers to two final four appearances winning a state championship in her freshman year. She earned a scholarship to play at Wallace State where she studied art, which is how she’s currently makes a living selling her canvas paintings and drawing and inking tattoos.
“I began boxing as a way to exercise, to stay in shape,” said Houston, who recently moved back to North Alabama after living in Texas for two years. “I took a four-year break from boxing as I had my two daughters, ShaKae is six and AuShae is four. I’m a stay-at-home mom as I live with my sister.”
The 5-foot-7, 119-pound fighter said she feels soft and motherly with her two daughters, but added, “All that goes out the window when I step into the ring. I love the challenges boxing presents me, especially mentally. It excites me to face my fears in the ring.”
The 30-year old Houston has had just two bouts in the last 18 months, due to lack of competition in woman’s boxing. She is currently 7-3 overall in the ring.
“I’m ready and confident as I’m prepared both physically and mentally as I’m not nervous at all about being in the nationals. I’m focused and want to perform to the best of my ability,” said Houston, who will fight in the bantamweight division.
Steve Badgley has been coaching both fighters at Rocket City Boxing located on Jordan Lane in Huntsville.
“Sydney is the kind of athlete every coach hopes for as she has the skills, the ring IQ and the awareness to control a fight, and she does everything with speed and smoothness,” said Badgley. “What stands out just as much is her work ethic, as she is balancing her life as a mother while still performing at this level says a lot about her. She’s composed, sharp and ready to compete with anyone in the country.”
“Bradley’s put himself in this position through discipline and consistency,” said Badgley, of Belt who earned a college scholarship to the University of Wyoming where he played two seasons after graduating James Clemens. “He lives in the gym and is always looking for ways to improve. What makes him dangerous is his versatility. He can outbox you over three rounds in a bout, but he also has the kind of power that can change a fight instantly.”
Belt’s life story includes suffering from a form of leukemia that was diagnosed while playing basketball for Wyoming. He’s been in remission after undergoing chemotherapy.
“I’ve been working on my stamina and being mentally locked in for the nationals,” said Houston, of her preps for the championships. “I truly believe I have all the boxing skills to win. I hope I inspire other women to try boxing on a competitive level. Several women go through boxing workouts at Rocket City, but don’t try the competitive level. I tell them if I can compete on the national level, they can, too.”
