Saturday, August 16th, marks the 4th locally hosted boxing event in Oswego. OBC Athletics owner Derek Falcetti promises more events and a partnership with Silver Gloves. As Oswego gains momentum in the national amateur boxing scene, OBC Athletics hopes to use that momentum to attract tourism.
Silver Gloves are the youth equivalent of Golden Gloves. Golden Gloves competitors range from 18-40, while Silver Gloves competitors range from 8-16. A partnership with the Silver Gloves event would mean people from New York, or possibly nationally, will have another reason to visit Oswego.
“We’re going to end up with the regional tournament,” said Falcetti. This means that the 2026 Silver Gloves state regional tournament will be hosted locally in Oswego in 2026, with the state tournaments being held in Rochester. Winner’s of the regional tournament will advance to the national finals for Silver Gloves.
“The Silver Gloves tournament will draw a big crowd, that’s where the best of the best fight,” said Falcetti, “friends and families will travel here, they’re going to support our local restaurant, hotels, it’s going to become a tourist activity at that point.”
Saturday’s event will feature multiple fights with kids in the Silver Gloves’ age range. Falcetti hopes that this partnership, along with Silver Gloves and Curtis Manor, will enable Oswego to become a place where young talent can grow and be sustained.
Falcetti credits Jorge Delgado, Andre Mendez, Dominic Falcetti, and King Cook for leading the youth boxing program. “They’re creating the future leaders, so I have to credit them; we’re having new competition fighters debuting because of them,” said Falcetti.
OBC Athletics’ 4th boxing event will take place at Curtis Manor, located at 10 Mark Fitzgibbons Dr, Oswego. “We’ve got a great partnership with the team at Curtis Manor,” said Falcetti, “they take exceptional care of our team. Anthony Pauldine has been an advocate and sponsor for us since 2013.”
Falcetti and his team hope to put on 4 events yearly for Oswego residents and visitors. “We’re going to schedule our 3rd event in October, and a final show in December,” said Falcetti.
Sponsors for the event currently include Hometown Cigars and Endurance Demolition and Environmental Services. Both businesses are new in town but are close friends of Falcetti. Endurance’s Anthony Pieropan’s nephew will be making his boxing debut on this card, “so to have Anthony sponsor, and have his nephew debut on the card, it’s magical,” said Falcetti.
OBC Athletics is thrilled to host another event in Oswego. “I feel like we have a lot of people supporting our gym in Oswego,” said Jorge Delgado, “our community supports our gym. Even though I have over 30 fights and I have fought in front of my friends and family before, I still get butterflies.”
As for King Cook, he appreciates having hometown events, so his friends and family don’t have to travel as far too can see him. “When we travel far, some people can come. But with a hometown event, everyone can group up and come,” said Cook. King hopes to compete in the national finals for Silver Gloves again in 2o26, like he did earlier this year.
Falcetti made sure thanks to his wife Elain Falcetti, and Celinet Duran Jimenez for their constant support of strength and conditioning and meal preparation for fighters.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at OBC Athletics, located at 135 E Bridge St. Many boxers from the youth boxing club at OBC will be fighting on the card, so come support Oswego’s future leaders this Saturday
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