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East side gym giving teens a fighting chance

Posted at 7:45 PM, Oct 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-27 20:41:03-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- An east side gym is teaching teens life lessons to help give them a fight chance to stay on the right path and out of trouble.

In a neighborhood where teens are fighting for their future, Indy Boxing and Grappling has become a safe haven.

“Rather than you be in the streets, you are here working out, you know - striving for something,” said Chrisshawn Harris, who has been going to the gym for the past six months. 

Teens don’t have to pay to play at this gym, and all of the coaches are volunteers.

The gym gives back whatever comes in. Their goal is to teach teens kids confidence and give them a fighting chance at life. 

“If you can work out here, you’re going to have confidence, that’s all we want to teach kids,” said Patrick McPherson who opened the gym give years ago.

It’s now where top-level boxers practice, alongside beginners of all ages.

It’s not easy to keep a facility like that open, with little or no money. But McPherson and his coaches - like two-time Golden Glove champion Ike Boyd – truly believe in the power of boxing.

“Boundaries, respect, discipline, self-esteem, confidence – It did all of that for me and I know it does the same thing for youth and adults alike,” said Boyd.

Boyd says he makes sure to meet he parents of every child he mentors. Some of kids come to him after getting in trouble at school or with the law. But once in the ring, he says it doesn’t matter. What counts, is that they’re focused on being the best they can be.