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In this corner, a new amateur boxing club

Gem in the Hood Boxing Club for amateur male and female pugilists will celebrate its grand opening in Clearwater on Saturday.

By YUXING ZHENG
Published September 30, 2005

CLEARWATER - Keith Dickerson is sweating so much he looks like he jumped out of a pool.

His 5-foot-2, 150-pound body bounces around the small rectangular room, shedding drops across the chipped cement floor. His feet dance, hitting the ground barely more than a couple of seconds at a time.

Left jab. Right hook.

There's no air conditioning and the pervasive, musty smell of sweat lingers between the light green walls. An orange extension cord powers the only overhead fluorescent light that's lit, leaving the corners in shadows.

It's still a step up for Dickerson, who boxed on the street for a few years. He's a team captain now and leads his seven fellow boxers on a recent afternoon through calisthenics, jogging and exercises.

"I feel good because I know people look up to me," said Dickerson, 20, his black pants soaking. "It just makes me work harder and better."

It's that self-confidence, discipline and self-control that E. Ajamu Babalola said he hopes his club will help foster. Babalola, the founder of Ervin's All American Youth Club, recently revived the amateur boxing part of the club, naming it Gem in the Hood Boxing Club. The club will celebrate its grand opening Saturday.

The club had 10 registered boxers Thursday, but another 25 have signed up, including four women, Babalola said. Males and females ages 8 and over are welcome. Members of the core group of 10 boxers have been learning the basic footwork, stances and moves for two weeks, and Babalola expects them to compete in amateur boxing competitions in several months.

Babalola requires each participant to sign a contract agreeing to abstain from alcohol, smoking and drugs. Students must attend school with passing grades and no disciplinary problems. Parents of minors must approve their child's participation. A copy of the club's code of conduct emphasizing discipline, self-control and accountability is posted next to the gym door.

From 4 to 6 p.m. every weekday, volunteer head coach David Faison explains the proper stance, posture and other boxing techniques. Faison boxed in the Army for 12 years and understands the benefits for youth who need a little guidance.

"They need some direction, some avenue to go down," he said. "Just by being able to deal with this, you can be able to get through anything."

He encourages his eager students as he pushes them through the basics.

"When you're tired, you can't quit!" he yells. "You got to keep running."

Ervin's started in 1981 with its boxing club, Babalola said. But other programs were later added, including a food pantry and tutoring program, that drew Babalola's time and attention and forced him to end the boxing club in 1986. Babalola and his wife, Aseelah, run Ervin's together and have cut back on their other programs.

"Boxing ended up on the back burner," he said. "Now, we can go back to our first love: boxing."

He decided to revive the boxing club two weeks ago after watching a group of youths walking around aimlessly. He remembered that young people in the North Greenwood neighborhood asked him to revive the boxing club.

Now is the time, he thought.

The boxing club is supported through the boxers' $20 registration fee and money from Babalola's own pocket, though he declined to specify how much. Ervin's used to receive funding from the city of Clearwater several years ago, but lost it, he said. The Juvenile Welfare Board in 2000 also eliminated funding for Ervin's, citing deficiencies in record keeping and contract compliance.

But Babalola is determined to start fresh. He doesn't expect handouts from the community, but encourages residents to become involved.

The club's equipment is limited - several large punching bags, pairs of red gloves and jump ropes - and comes from donations. The club has a makeshift training ring that isn't up yet and is still looking for a regulation-sized ring.

Gem in the Hood's opening coincides with the sport's growing popularity.

The Florida Association of USA Boxing, the national governing body for amateur boxing, has seen its numbers explode in the past decade.

The association, which includes much of Florida, excluding the Miami area, had 25 to 30 registered clubs a decade ago with 250 to 300 boxers, said Bob Nicholson, registration chairman for the Florida Association. Today, those numbers have jumped to 67 clubs with 747 registered boxers.

He attributes part of the popularity to greater exposure in televised competitions like the Olympics.

Nicholson knows some people see boxing as a violent sport. But amateur boxing, he insists, is different. He's quick to highlight safety as amateur boxing's primary concern.

Nationwide, USA Boxing's numbers show a similar growth. Eight years ago, the organization counted 22,501 registered boxers compared with 24,597 last year, said Julie Goldsticker, director of public relations.

Boxing, she says, appeals to a wider group of people. The number of registered female boxers nearly tripled in the last eight years, and a lot of participants box for the exercise rather than out of any desire to compete, she said.

Leon Brown, 20, said he joined Gem in the Hood to stay active but hopes to someday compete. "Otherwise, I'd be at home laying down and watching TV," he said.

Brown first started boxing in the street with his good friend Dickerson. They had nothing else to do, he said.

These days in the gym, he's working with coach Faison to develop a stronger stance and to protect his body.

"You got to want to be the best!" Faison yells to the group. "You got to want to be No. 1. Who wants to be No. 1?"

All eight arms - tired as they are - fly into the air.

--Yuxing Zheng can be reached at 727 445-4163 or yzheng@sptimes.com

[Last modified September 30, 2005, 01:36:15]