BUFFALO, N.Y. — After taking a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Buffalo Golden Gloves boxing tournament makes its return — and this year will feature a remarkable honoree.

What You Need To Know

  • The Buffalo Golden Gloves boxing tournament returns to Buffalo Riverworks on March 20 after taking a hiatus due to COVID-19

  • The tournament will honor 90-year-old former boxer Percy Howell with the Golden Gloves Legends award

  • Howell is a Korean War veteran, former Golden Gloves boxer, husband of 65 years and father of three

Percy Howell, 90, will be honored at this year’s tournament with the Golden Gloves Legends award. 

The Alabama native looked up to boxing greats like Joe Lewis, learning the craft early on and perfecting it when he was stationed in Germany as an Army veteran in the Korean War. He has always been a man who not only had great skill, but great character, even as a child.

“You could hear the people say, ‘that’s going to be a great little man one day when he grows up,’ and I felt proud of it," Howell said. "I got respect from the older people, younger people, and whenever something would come up, they wanted me to help them out.”

He has taken that integrity throughout life, earning him respect wherever he went. According to his daughter Myzette, he has always been a promoter of peace, stopping instances of violence and wrongdoing wherever he went.

“Dad would always stop the car every Sunday night and get out and go talk to the men and say, ‘don’t hit that woman. You all should work together,’" she said. "Every time they saw him coming, if they were doing something wrong, they would pull their pants up and they would walk straight up because they knew he was a good guy.”

Percy’s biggest fans are his family: his three children and wife of 65 years, Loretta.

“I’ve given my life to this man,” Loretta said. “He’s given his life to me. And we have a beautiful daughter. We have three children. Our oldest two are gone now, but we’ve got our baby here and I tell you, it’s been a blessing. It truly has.”

Now, Percy is being honored for his upstanding character, determination and skill at the tournament he once fought in, and has attended every year. He was even awarded a uniform from the 2018 Golden Gloves championship by the tournament's president Don Patterson.

The Golden Gloves Tournament takes place March 20 at Buffalo Riverworks. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. More information can be found here.