Main Street Gym Update

Wrapping hands is 8 year Old Eric Acosta and hitting the focus mitts is 14 Year old Ivan Calixto. Please read on.

Long before a boxer breaks through as prospect, a contender or a champion, they must come from somewhere. They must learn their craft and work to perfect it in the amateur ranks. Unlike any other sport it means traveling all over the country to competitions, working 2 hours a night, 5 nights a week, 52 weeks a year, year, after year, after year, and going virtually unseen until the day comes when they can say they are a “professional Boxer”.

But you, All of you have made it a different story for the young boxers of our area. You have covered their climb from their first fights to professional title bouts, on national TV. You should know that you are a big part of what motivate these kids to push on and continue the climb.

For a young fighter, those few moments of glory in the ring can be fleeting. But to see and hear your name in the media afterwards, to have your teacher, friends and students, see it, read it and hear it, can be the difference between loosing a young boxer to the streets or building a champion. These kids are as excited about their names in the media as they are about winning. I just want to thank you all for the coverage you give these kids. Many other young boxers around the country deserve the coverage, but do not get it and we feel very fortunate for that.

I think you need to know that you play a part, not only in the success of these kids in the ring, but also as a motivator to keep these kids off the streets and in the gym. What you do, goes far beyond just reporting their results, you inspire them to stay with it and I thank you all for that.

Coach Hal Chernoff, Main st Gym