Red Bank Junior, 4th In Nation, Has Olympic Boxing Dreams

Saleem Kelly, a junior at Red Bank Regional High School, will begin his quest for another state in the New Jersey Golden Gloves 2015 tournament, which begins this weekend at Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown.

Kelly moved up to the 152-pound Open Division this year, after winning the Novice title last year and placing third overall at the national championships in Nevada, according to a news release on the Red Bank Regional website.

Kelly, currently fourth in the nation in his age and weight class, won both the N.J. Golden Gloves and Diamond Gloves titles for his weight class in the Novice Division last year, and went to the national championships with a perfect state record. He is now 15-1, with his only loss being in the semifinals at nationals.

Dan Doyle, who runs the Middletown PAL (Police Athletic League) Program where Kelly trains, said Kelly’s accomplishment is significant, especially for someone who is new to boxing. Mr. Doyle is also the president of the New Jersey Golden Gloves organization. These programs are all certified by USA Boxing, which is the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing in the United States and a member organization of the United States Olympic Committee.

“Saleem is in the most competitive weight class of 152 pounds, where most 17- to 18-year-olds fall, and he was competing against guys with so much more experience than him,” Doyle said. “Some had been boxing for years with 100 fights under their belt. And he came in third in the competition. That is unheard of.”

“He turned a lot of heads out there (in the national tournament),” Doyle said. “Saleem has real talent, and a great work ethic.”

Kelly took up boxing at the encouragement of his father Craig, who also boxed with the Middletown PAL and trains Kelly when he is not working at the Middletown gym. In all, Kelly trains six days a week, four to six hours a day in his sport. He credits boxing for giving him focus and purpose.

“Boxing changed my life, most definitely,” he said. “I wasn’t really on the right path and had an uncertain future. My dad put me in boxing and little by little I was winning and starting to like it. I never knew this could be my calling. My confidence definitely improved, and I feel I still can grow as I continue in this sport.”

Kelly, who is in Red Bank Regional’s Academy of Finance, is ”a great kid,” said Erin Pinto, a Red Bank Regional staff member who has worked with Kelly. “He is extremely intelligent, charismatic and respectful.”

Kelly hopes to box professionally, but until that time, he would love the opportunity to try out for the U.S. Olympic team. Doyle said he believes that is a real possibility given Kelly’s talent and dedication to the sport. USA Boxing uses this program as the farm team for its Olympic boxers.

“I still need to learn more of the craft,“ Kelly said of his Olympic goals. “ I am trying to become more experienced so that I reach my full fighting potential.”

Find out about the New Jersey Golden Gloves competition here.