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Friday, February 1, 2008
Boxing Makes a Difference in the Lives of Berks' Teens
Greater Reading, PA
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By: Kristen Kramer, VYPE
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Photo(s) By: Phil Marabella
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At King's Gym, the kids are building more than just physical strength
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“I wanted to give back to the community and offer kids a place to get off the streets. It’s not about boxing. It’s about changing lives.”
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As one enters King’s Gym, located on Elm Street in Reading, it’s like walking into a scene in Rocky. In the middle of the ring, a mentor trains a protégé. Kids look on, waiting for their chance to step into the spotlight. Off to the side, several students work out on punching bags and cardio equipment. Others practice their moves in front of a mirror. Posters of famous boxers, including Muhammad Ali, Jack Dempsey and Mike Tyson, adorn the white-painted brick walls. One can smell the sweat in the air – a sign of the dedication of the teens and young adults who religiously train here.
A sign hangs proudly above the ring for Kermit “The Killer” Cintron and his February 16, 2002, WBC World Junior Championship. Cintron is one of the success stories in the boxing world for Marshall Kauffman, the founder of King’s Gym. Kauffman is also proud of his son Travis Kauffman’s success as an amateur super heavyweight. But his real success stories are the teens in whose lives he has made a difference.
“I grew up in the city. I was around drugs and got involved in that scene,” said Kauffman, who has come a long way since those days. “I wanted to give back to the community and offer kids a place to get off the streets. It’s not about boxing. It’s about changing lives.”
So began the story of King’s Gym, which opened its doors in 1995. “The name of my gym has two meanings. King is for my Lord and Savior, and King also stands for ‘Kids in Need of Guidance,’” Kauffman explained. He operates the gym with his son Jason Kauffman and Joe Pastore.
Kauffman opens the doors to King’s every weekday at 4:30 p.m. and offers limited training on Saturday mornings. “When teens initially come here to train, I allow them to come just twice a week. It makes them want to be here even more and to really try. After three months and when they have proven their commitment, they can come every day.”
“It’s a good feeling knowing I’ve made a difference. People still call me who I trained years ago and thank me for the opportunity they had at King’s.”
One such success story is Dirk Weaver, a 1989 graduate of Reading High School, who began training with Kauffman in ’95 and continued through 1998. “Boxing helped me discipline myself,” said Weaver. “I really enjoyed working out at King’s. Marshall made it fun to go to the gym – win, lose or draw. And I really enjoyed the camaraderie.”
“Marshall is such a good person. He doesn’t blow smoke but looks to bring out the best in everyone,” said Weaver, who grew up on North Eighth Street in Reading and is now a successful realtor in Charlotte, N.C. “And Marshall doesn’t turn anyone away from King’s, which is really admirable. If you are in the gym and off the streets, that’s a success in his eyes.”
“Unlike most team sports, with boxing and wrestling, you can only rely on yourself,” said Kauffman. “You can’t have an off day. With other sports you have a team member to pick up the slack but not in boxing.”
“Boxing takes a commitment far beyond all other sports,” Kauffman said. “Most sports are seasonal. Next year is a brand new season where you can start over with a new record. That’s not the case with boxing. Your record doesn’t disappear once you’ve started. It’s with you for life.”
Although initially Kauffman’s goal was to offer boxing to students in the city, King’s reputation has grown and attracts students from all over the county, of various ages and experience levels.
A 2006 Hamburg Area High School grad, Jose Martinez, has been boxing at King’s for three years. “As I began training, I noticed I had more endurance, and I felt a lot stronger. Boxing takes a lot of dedication but it can be very rewarding.” Martinez won his first match in November of 2005. “It was the proudest feeling I have ever had. I worked really hard for it.”
A newbie to the world of boxing and one of three females who train at King’s is Tassalea Lopez, a student at Wilson Southern Junior High. Lopez, 13, was encouraged by her mother to get involved in boxing. She began training four months ago and now works out at King’s every weekday. “Boxing is a good way to let out your frustrations,” Lopez said. “It’s more of an individual sport, which I like.”
Right now, when Lopez spars she is boxing against boys, but when she competes in a real match, she will box against other girls. “When you first get in the ring, it can be a little scary,” she admits. “But once you are in there you loosen up.”
“The thing about boxing is it’s all mental,” explained Marshall. “You have to be prepared for it. You build mental toughness as well as physical strength and discipline.” He encourages everyone to take a shot in the ring. “You never know until you try,” he said.
Reading High School sophomore Jesus Perez began his boxing career this past April. “I’ve wanted to try boxing since I was in seventh grade,” he said. “But my mom didn’t want me to. As I got older I still had the interest. I did research and found out about King’s. I’ve been trying really hard. And working out here is a great opportunity to get away from everything else.” Perez hopes to participate in his first match in February.
Anthony Santos, 13 and a seventh grader at Muhlenberg, has been boxing at King’s Gym for six months. He’s sparred but has yet to have a match. “My brother boxed, and that inspired me to try boxing,” Santos said. “I really enjoy the sport.”
Elizabeth Coyne, a sophomore at Exeter Township Senior High School, is relatively new to boxing. “My dad is a boxer, so I wanted to learn the sport,” Coyne said, who began training just a few months ago. “I wanted a place I could box, so I did some research online and found King’s Gym.”
Coyne works out two or three times a week and is trying to master her “stepping.” Once she achieves that, she believes she will be ready for her first match, which could happen in January. When asked about being a female in a male-dominated sport, Coyne said, “I really don’t see it as an issue.” She encourages other females not let anything hold them back if they are interested in trying the sport.
Quincy Staples attends Northeast Middle School. The 13-year-old has been boxing for about a year and trains at King’s four days a week. “It was so exciting when I won my first match,” Staples said, who so far has participated in four matches and won three of them.
Alejandro Reyes began working out at King’s two months ago. Three to four times a week, the Reading High junior heads to the gym right from school. “I like training at King’s. It’s something fun to do, and I noticed I have had more energy since I started coming here.” Reyes said.
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