With the preponderance of world class gyms and fighters in the Bay Area, SFist has always wondered why the San Francisco Golden Gloves has evolved into more of a fighter friends and family event than a fan-oriented competition, as it was when established in 1931. In years past we've witnessed the Gloves from the bleachers of the Cow Palace, where remnants of hay and manure from last week's rodeo made us feel more like we were at Fight Night at the State Fair than at San Francisco's oldest sports franchise.

This year we will be watching the Gloves in style, at the Civic Auditorium (just compare the two venue websites for insight into why we applaud the change). The event, beginning at 7 PM tonight and every night through Saturday, breaks down into 4 themed days. Tonight is College Night, where anyone who shows a valid student I.D. at the door only pays $10 dollars admission. (Not a bad deal, given what you probably shelled out to get that I.D.). Thursday is Labor Night. Same deal, just swap your student ID for your union card. Friday: Examiner Night, in honor of long-time Golden Gloves sponsor (and SFist fave) The San Francisco Examiner. And finally Saturday brings the excitingly titled KNBR - Night of Champions, a Las Vegas/Madison Square Garden style boxing experience complete with an appearance by past SF GG Champion and Olympic Gold medalist Andre Ward.

We hope you'll come out an join us for this exciting new era in San Francisco combat sports, as SFist will be in the stands on Friday and Saturday, keeping our eyes peeled for the next Andre Ward, Paris Alexander (one of SFist's favorite local champs and coaches), or the next big thing to come out of any of our regional (Monterey and north) gyms. See you there!

Image from SFGG site. Thanks to Jared Rivera of Rivera PR for enabling SFist's coverage of this event. Additional reporting by SFist Tim.