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It would seem Glen Cove has a young boxer primed and pumped to bring a Golden Gloves championship to his hometown, for the second year in a row. Consider his most recent fight. In his first-ever Golden Gloves bout, against Douglas Milano from the Veterans Memorial Boxing Club, Robert Eli Gooden scored a knockout over his opponent just 11 seconds into round one, garnering the third fastest recorded knockout in Golden Gloves history, which dates from 1927. Did it with a left hook. "It was so fast, I didn't even realize what had happened," said the 22-year-old pugilist. "My opponent came at me with a flurry of punches, I connected, and he went down."

He's better known as Eli at the ring. "When he's not at his best, we tell him to send Robert home," laughed Eli's trainers, Tim Lane and Gaetano Grella (better known as Gary at the ring). Eli is anxious to follow in the footwork of Raul Nunzio, who won the Golden Gloves last year in the 165-lb. novice division, which is also Eli's division.

After playing football and lacrosse and wrestling for the Big Red, Glen Cove High School Class of 2004, Eli trained a few years in the Sweet Science, but never fought. He got busy with college and work, then came back to the ring five years ago and fought four bouts, earning him a 2-2 season. About a year or so ago, Eli found himself ringside again, watching Raul Nunzio training for the Gloves. "I was completely inspired by Raul," smiled Eli, "and I said, 'I want that.'" He began training with Tim and Gary at Island Fitness in Glen Cove and at Fitness Fight Club in Rockville Center, dropped from 200 lbs. to 165, and last year boasted a 6-1 record, the one loss being a "very controversial decision," he said.

But that wasn't in the Golden Gloves. This year, having left-hooked his way into the record books in 11 seconds, Eli foresees more pages in those books just waiting TO have his name recorded in gold. "I've worked hard to get where I am today," he said, "I have a competitive spirit...an edge...and I'm inspired."

Robert is one of nine children, and if you don't know him or any of his siblings, you just might know his mother, Eileen Gooden. A fixture in Glen Cove, Ms. Gooden is the Special Police officer you invariably see flashing her gleaming smile and popping her brass buttons as her brood of nine grows and makes her prouder each day.

Eli Gooden will be fighting in his second Golden Gloves bout on Friday, Feb. 22 at the New South Bronx PAL center. Information and directions can be found at usaboxingmetro.com.

And so the saga of the strong connection Glen Cove has with the Sweet Science continues. With each boxing story, this reporter asks the reader to consider the following: Darcy Belyea, Glen Cove Parks and Recreation director, is a former public relations director for Main Events and Madison Square Garden Boxing; assistant principal at Glen Cove High School Allen Hudson is Allen "June Bug" Hudson's son; and the principal at Finley Middle School, Anael Alston, is a former Golden Gloves champ and cousin to former World Champion Zab Judah; Hubert Hilton, a former city employee, fought in heavyweight title bouts around the world and Howard Davis, Jr., a 1976 Olympic gold medallist and teammate of the great Sugar Ray Leonard, was also a Golden Gloves champ from Glen Cove. In 2007, Raul Nunzio brought the Golden Gloves back to Glen Cove, and 2008 looks very promising

If anyone asks, Robert has arrived...