“HUD has a vision of profit, we don’t. We just have a dream for the kids. We just want to help them be something in life,” said Nate Boyd, sitting in the Bedford-Stuyvesant Boxing Center in Brooklyn.
Almost 25 years old and still going strong, the training home of numerous champions, it is so much more than a boxing center. It is a gym catering to children and women; it is a cultural center and community space for all—and according to Boyd, and his partner Clarence Beynard—it is under threat by property seekers, who have less community-minded projects in mind.
“This is a landmark building. We’ve got special people here,” Beynard told the Daily Challenge.
The names and faces of gym legends and boxers are painted on walls, amidst the boxing paraphernalia, and fliers announcing tournaments and community programs. Tacked to the wall was a flier for Straight Beef, calling on hip-hop heads and licensed boxers to come battle for a few Gs.
Notices for past GED and summer programs remind folks of what is usually offered.
Above the ring, not one, but two red, black and green flags are hung.
The punching bags were still when the Daily Challenge visited early yesterday morning, but there’s no doubt that in an hour or two, they will be the focus of workouts.
The Challenge spoke to trainers Benyard and Boyd. But to call them trainers belies the whole scope of what it is they do. They are father figures, big brothers, problem solvers, sportsmen, administrators and visionaries.
Cool as you want them to be, their intense passion for the work they do bubbles just below the calm surface each man possesses.
“We are focusing right now on trying to keep the building,” Boyd told the paper. “We think that HUD actually owned the property, because that is who we have been dealing with—we had an arrangement for years to pay $1 per year, but now we believe that HUD is working with Settlement Housing Fund and Medgar Ever Houses, to raise the rent and perhaps get us out.”
For eight years, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has managed the nearby 13 buildings and 485 apartments of Medgar Evers Houses and Betty Shabazz Houses.
“They have been coming at us in different ways for years,” said Beynard.
In the mid-1990’s, Rite-Aid eyed the property, and a fight fended off their advances.
“We have always paid $1 annually, then they raised it to $1 a month, and now they want $1000 a year. But, they only want to give us a one year lease,” said Beynard. “We think that they want this for themselves. The Community Service Society (CSS) has been working with them too.”
A call to HUD, a.k.a. the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, was not returned.
The Challenge went to the Community Service Society (CSS) Bed-Stuy office, but was unable to reach Angela Hope-Weusi, the on-site director who is dealing with the issue.
Hope-Weusi has previously denied charges that a takeover is in the wings.
“This is a community center. We are trying to help the children,” said Benyard. “They need this center. It helps keeps the kids off the streets and off the corner. We’ve got mothers bringing their daughters here to keep them away from all that negativity.”
Renovated from a former bank, in 1980, Atty. Lamont Flanagua founded the gym at 275 Marcus Garvey Blvd. He ran the center until 1989, when he handed the reins over to two-time world champion Henry ‘Pepper’ Brent.
New York City and boxing goes together like a hand and glove. One published report states that the first “official” boxing match in United States was held right here in 1816. Later, the city became boxing capital of the nation.
“Iron” Mike Tyson has passed through the gym, but it has been the training center for champion and boxing greats including: Riddick Bowe, Olympic medalist; former world champ, Michael Moorer; 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time world champion Mark Breland.
With no city or state funding, their do-for-self attitude is reflected in their campaigns such as their “Save Our Gym” fundraiser.
Trainers and everyday members of the community delve into their pockets to keep the lights on and the overheads paid for, but it is never enough. Donations are still required, said Boyd.
Nurturing athletes, artists, musicians, young business people and academics is all part of the protracted agenda.
There are regular sparring bouts, and there have even been a celebrity charity-boxing exhibition.
Boyd’s own son was fatally shot a few years ago. The tragedy kept him inspired to keep helping the kids, who he said come from all over the city. “We have at least 250 children here, boys and girls from seven years up. This is not necessarily about boxing—they learn discipline and self-confidence. They can go on to become doctors, correction officers or teachers. I know those who have.”
“They come here after school. You can hardly walk in here, it gets so full. After they do their homework—here they come. We don’t let them in here before 3 p.m. We ask them about school and how they’re doing. We have professional trainers to work with them.”
“The parents come here and watch their children box,” said Beynard. “Their eyes light up. It is such a pleasure to watch them train. There is such a gleam in their eyes.”
The names of the trainers are a roll call they speak with pride — names like George Washington, Anthony Holt, Cecil Bowen (recently late), and Jim White, who aged 93, still goes to the gym every day.
“We have a senior citizen’s program here. They work out three or four days a week. It’s cute. It’s good. Age doesn’t mean you give up your life... I don’t know what the elders and the kids would do without this place,” said Beynard.
Folk passing by the gym pop in: youth, parents, elders, everyone.
“They come in and relive their youth and the children listen. This is about respect here. This is an umbrella for the kids,” said Boyd. “We know the kids who stand on the corner, they know us.”
There is no charge for the training, but there is a $20 monthly fee, to keep the lights on, said Boyd.
Open from 10 a.m. until almost whenever—“until the last fighter goes home”—there are women boxers too.
Local boxer Debbie Cannon has been fighting for four years. “I love the sport,” she told the Challenge. “I would encourage every female to come and join. This gym is very important to the youth. The kids learn a lot from it, especially discipline.”
Boyd will tell those a little short of the fee to bring it next time, because the discipline determines that the money aspect is recognized, said trainer Rock.
The youth appreciate the hard work that goes into the sport, said Boyd.
The center, which hosts GED and summer youth programs, is looking for volunteers, coaches and donations of equipment and money for proposed computer classes, women’s aerobics, and the establishing of basketball, baseball and football teams.
With over 100 amateur boxers currently using the gym, the gym is in need of financial assistance, even though Everlast, Rocawear and Punch U.S.A have donated some equipment.
They want community support as their focus remains on keeping what they’ve got, and fighting off those who find the Marcus Garvey/Gates Avenue spot nothing but prime real estate.
“They began to get really aggressive about a year ago,” said Rock. “They are going to keep coming at us.”
“It will hurt my heart if they close this gym,” said Marlon Bobbitt. He was a kid running the streets when he saw the grand opening sign decades ago, paid his dollar, and just kept coming back.
“A lot of these kids depend upon this gym,” he concluded. “There are kids here from the Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan. We work with them from the heart. They need this place.”
For information call (718) 452-9256.
