EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON Kan. — Jacob Cox lived down the street in an apartment complex from the Reno County Boxing Academy on 600 N Adams St. in Hutchinson. Cox said he found himself in the gym and never left. Just two weeks ago Monday, the Hutchinson native found out that he's been invited to compete at the USA Olympic Team Boxing Trials in Lafayette Louisiana Dec. 2-9.
The trials are set up in a tournament format, and the winner will go to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. The 25 year-old heavyweight boxer could potentially go to Paris as an alternate as well.
"It's just a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm just so thankful for it," Cox said. "I've just been working super hard and thankful I've had a good coach who's helped me every step of the way."
Cox said he and his coach Richard Gadbury talked about the possibility of Cox going to the Olympic Trials last December. To receive an invitation, a boxer has to qualify in the top two at a national tournament.
Cox medaled at each tournament he's competed in so far. He got invited to apply for a wild card spot to compete.
"You can never expect anything, but I kind of had my hopes on it and didn't want to give up on it," Cox said.
Gadbury said Cox always works hard. He said Cox wants to compete and show that the Reno County Boxing Club is a competitive gym. So far this year, Cox has 16 bouts.
"It's a competitive team and when this place was opened, it was opened with the intent of developing someone that wanted to represent our country at the highest levels," Gadbury said.
A native of Hutchinson himself, Gadbury said it feels good to represent the town. He said community members are supportive of Cox's journey and the boxing club.
"It seems like all at once people figured out, you know, this is doable," Gadbury said.
If anybody is interested in supporting Cox in his trip to Lafayette, Louisiana, the gym is selling t-shirts and sweatshirts. Sweatshirts cost $40 and t-shirts cost $20. The gym is also accepting donations through Cashapp. Funds should be sent to the username,$renocountyboxing.
More information about the Reno County Boxing Academy is available at renocountyboxing.org. More information about the USA Boxing Olympic Team Trials is available at usaboxing.org.
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