NIAGARA FALLS — Terry Carter saw fellow Niagara Falls High School graduate Jonny Flynn get drafted into the NBA. His cousin James Starks wowed scouts at the NFL Combine. And his step-brother James Mallory looks as if he’ll get a shot in an NFL camp as well.

“They’re all living out their dreams, why can’t I?,” Carter said earlier this week before a workout at Casal’s Boxing Club. “I’m only 25. I’ve still got time to do this thing. And I know I can do it, too.”

His first step in that process is Saturday’s opening night of the Golden Gloves Tournament at Erie Community College’s Flickinger Center in Buffalo. Carter will be in attendance, but may not fight due to a lack of an opponent in the super heavyweight division. There are two other dates, though, prior to the state tournament on April 23. The national event is slated for May 3-8 in Little Rock, Ark.

Carter’s appearance in the ring will be his first since 2005. The Falls resident was a three-time Golden Gloves champion under trainer Ray Casal before taking time off to raise his five children and attend school at ITT.

Earlier this year, Carter came back to the gym to shed some weight. He currently weighs in at about 240 pounds, but his hope is to continue to get leaner as the tournament moves on. With that weight loss will come additional speed and strength in his hands and feet, Casal said.

“He’s still got all the skills,” the trainer added, while noting that Carter owns victories over Buffalo pro heavyweights Lionell Thompson and Excel Holmes. “He’s got a hell of a left hook. He’s looked really good in sparring and on the pads.”

Carter said his mental approach to the sport has changed greatly since the last time he fought. Fatherhood, specifically, has sparked that change.

“I pride myself on pushing it to the max and then pushing past it,” he said. “I want to set that type of example for my kids. You can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

Carter hopes his approach leads to wins in the coming months with a goal of turning pro by year’s end. Casal said those goals are extremely realistic with Carter a strong possibility for an undercard amateur bout on an upcoming event at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center.



FIGHT NIGHT

n WHAT: Golden Gloves Tournament

n WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

n WHERE: Erie Community College’s Flickinger Center, Buffalo

n TICKETS: Adults — $20 in advance, $25 at door; Children 12-and-under — $10 in advance, $15 at door. Available at Carubba Collision, Pacillo’s, Doris Records and www.clicketix.com.

n OTHER CASAL’S FIGHTERS: Mike Penque (open middleweight), Dominic Sirianni (sub-novice welterweight), Chris Douglas (sub-novice lightweight), Katey Wekenmann (novice bantamweight) and Jen Trimmer (sub-novice flyweight)