Boxing builds strong bodies & characters

For too many children from New York, the story is the same: absent fathers, gang ties and few models or outlets. On social networks, each light is amplified, each humiliation program – pushing children to choices that can end their young life.

Armed violence is now the main cause of death for children in America. Only last year, more than 2,500 children under the age of 18 were killed by firearms – almost seven days a day.

We know that boxing can offer a powerful solution.

Founded in 1914, Athletic League police in New York were once the cornerstone of community boxing, connecting the cops with children. But in 2010, PAL closed its boxing programs on the five districts. Overnight, hundreds of children lost the outlet that kept them out of the street. For so many people, boxing was more than a sport – it was discipline, confidence and a means of transforming rage into resilience.

This loss was unacceptable. In 2011, we launched cops and boxing children to fill the void. What started with a handful of cops has become a family of teachers, artists, parents, volunteers and local legends. On a stop budget, we built the country’s most successful free amateur boxing program.

Today, we are running gymnasiums on Staten Island and Brooklyn, largely funded by the NYPD boxing team, which is fighting in public exhibitions to keep the lights on. From these gymnasiums came the last three Olympians to represent New York – and more than 90% of our regular members will graduate from the school.

Children like Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington grew up in our flatbush gymnasium. His brother was murdered in 2010, but Shu Shu found our program – and today he is the world world champion in the world. And he is not alone. We have fed hundreds of graduates who have become civil servants, professionals and community leaders.

We fill the gap between the application of laws and young people, creating common ground and confidence where it is most necessary. And the economy is undeniable: it costs taxpayers more than $ 500,000 to incarcerate a person on Rikers Island for a year – more than it costs us to manage our three combined gymnasiums.

Now, for the first time in 15 years, free boxing returns to the Bronx.

On September 8, we will open the Bronx Legends Cops & Kids, a boxing academy of 13,000 square feet at 1761 Walton Ave. This collaboration between Bronx Legends Boxing and Cops & Kids will offer a real academic model: our partners structured in boxing, fitness, yoga, tutoring and well-being provided by our partners, Woosaa Wellness. Children register for time slots, will progress through levels and strengthen resilience – not only as individuals, but as a teammates.

The gymnasium is more than an installation. It is mentorship, rehabilitation and the community. USA boxing coaches will guide the combatants who wish to compete, while children looking for fitness and belonging will find the same support. And at the end of the training, the tutors will be there to help them finish their homework.

This new academy was made possible by the Bronx Legends Boxing, which led expansion in the Bronx, and the Procida family, which donated this space in their new development of affordable housing. The equipment came from Everlast, Dana White and the UFC, with financial contributions from Mark Cuban and Giorgos Tsetis.

The NYPD and the office of the mayor of New York also offered their support. But to keep this gymnasium alive – to pay our teachers and our coaches what they deserve – we need your help. Make a donation today to support this mission, and together we will bring free boxing to the five districts.

Too many children think that a pistol makes you a legend. We know the truth: boxing creates legends. Ali, Tyson, foreman-fighters from neighborhoods like this, trained in gymnasiums like this, and were supervised by cops, coaches and community leaders who cared enough to hold the mittens for them.

What has made them legends is not how many times they have been overthrown. It was how quickly they got up.

Put the pistols. Pick up the gloves. Leave the children’s box.

Bulger is the executive director of Bronx Legends Boxing.