SEATTLE — At Champ Boxing gym off Rainier Avenue, the sound of encouragement competes with sounds of punches pounding pads.
“Our community has always produced some of the most outstanding people,” former boxer turned coach Kevin Loyal said. “Not just athletes. But leaders. So I did think we would have champions. I just didn’t think it would be this fast.”
In just six months, Loyal has taken in four shy and quiet neighborhood kids and turned them into warriors.
“The CHAMP program stands for Creating Healthy Attitudes and Motivating our People,” Loyal explained.
“One more time! You can do better than that! Better, Harder, Meaner!” he exclaimed as 17-year-old Jaedin Stowers, his face obscured by a large two-toned afro, pounded the bag. Stowers was Loyal's first recruit, the son of a family friend who asked for a favor.
“I said no problem,” Loyal said. “I'd love to train your son. In his first fight, man, he put on a clinic. I was like this kid is the real deal!”
This gym has become a sanctuary for Stowers.
“School, I block that out. Home, I block that out. Just come in here to work,” he said. “I leave everything I'm going through outside the gym. I come in here and I'm just a new person.”
“This is more than boxing for these kids,” Loyal said. “This is family. It’s a place to call their own.”
At 10 years old, Dre' Vonn ‘Deuce the Truth’ Kelley junior just won his most recent Golden Gloves tournament in Tacoma.
“I haven't seen a ten year old hit that hard ever,” Loyal said.
“I wanna be undisputed world champion and have a lot of belts too and be known,” Kelley said.
That same weekend another 10-year-old, Christian Dobbins, won the Golden Gloves in the Pee Wee division.
“In the ring I'm thinking about where I can hit him at, where the best shots gonna be,” Dobbin said.
“He's got big power. Big faith. Big belief in himself,” Loyal said.
A tall 17-year-old, Uric Thomas had never won a bout until Loyal took him under his wing.
“Don't forget the head movements,” Loyal coached. “It's always important to anticipate defense understand me?”
Now Thomas is 7th in the nation.
“He's my long shot,” Loyal said. “I'm rooting for him. He's one of horses in the race."
Loyal worked in schools and corporations, but he started this non-profit program to help kids growing up where he grew up.
“The biggest thing I ask these guys is when you do make it, 'cause it's not if, it’s when you do make it, what are you gonna do for our community,” Loyal said. “How are you going to pay it forward? What are you gonna do?”
All four boxers hope to compete in the Junior Olympics this June in Wichita, Kansas, but it will take a village to get them there. To help out, check out this fundraising site.
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