Boxing clinics teach local kids life lessons

Tiny feet scurry around a dusty ring as parents, coaches and neighbors from the Roger’s Park community cheer on two 10-year-old boys during a Friday night boxing match in Loyola Park.

A boy in blue silk shorts moves his arms in slow, steady strokes like a windmill while his opponent in red takes short, swift jabs into his abdomen.

Cameras flash and mothers groan as the punches grow faster.

Even though the boy in blue loses the match, he touches gloves and smiles at his opponent before leaving the ring.

“This is what it’s all about,” champion boxer and Clarendon Park Coach Tom O’Shea said as he motions his head to the rink. “Teaching kids that there is a man in white up there calling the rules and making sure there is a fair, honest and straight fight.”

O’Shea is one of 19 coaches who participates in the Chicago Park District’s city wide boxing clinics for aspiring youth boxers that runs Sept. 24 through Dec 9. The Sept. 28 boxing tournament in Loyola Park’s gym at 1230 W. Greenview Rd. was the second of three tournaments this fall.

Kids like Max Erban, a 13-year-old Roger’s Park resident, only has to pay $8 every six weeks to attend training clinics and let out some steam.

“I have a lot of anger and I need someone to take it out on,” Erban said before he entered his first tournament Sept.28. “I can fight here without getting in trouble.”

Erban said he found the program online and was excited to join because he dreams about boxing as a Navy Seal some day. His father, Mark Erban, said that since his son Max started the program he manages his time better.

Mark and his three other sons attend all of Max’s matches. Though Mark Erban’s son doesn’t directly work with Coach O’Shea, he said all the coaches teach kids valuable lessons and athletic skills.

Every person involved in the park district’s boxing program has reasons for strapping on gloves and stepping into the ring. Three-time Golden Glove Champion O’Shea said he started boxing more than 30 years ago after immigrating from Ireland.

O’Shea said he was beat up a lot growing up because of his thick Irish accent. He began his boxing career after a nun told him he should be ashamed of himself and learn to fight like a man.

Now, he tries to instill morals into inner-city kids who don’t always have discipline, father figures or positive male role models at home or in their community. O’Shea said those who do have good dads still learn important life values from this program.

“This program teaches kids values without preaching to them,” O’Shea said.

The Chicago Park District’s website states that the youths involved in the program are responsible for shoes, shorts and mouthpieces. The park district supplies all equipment, individual coaches, trainers and venues for three boxing tournaments.

Chicago Park District spokeswoman Martha Juaniza said the benefits of the city’s 19 boxing clinics go beyond building muscle; they also build self-esteem.

“Sports is a very mental thing and when kids get tired and want to stop but actually see it through, they start to realize they can do things that may be hard,” Juaniza said.

Juaniza said the park district sponsors several types of sports because it gets kids active, encourages strong mental development and also brings families together.

Some residents attend the matches just as spectators. David Carroll and his wife said they attended the tournament to support kids from Roger’s Park.

“Even though my wife calls this a slug fest,” Carroll said nudging his wife. “But I love boxing and I’m here to support the kids in my community.”

Another Roger’s Park resident, Robert Aspholm, stumbled upon the match by accident.

“I came to play basketball, but found this instead,” said Aspholm, a Loyola University student, without taking his eyes off the match. “It’s nice to see kids off the streets and in the ring.”

The city wide boxing clinics are offered at Bessemer Park, Brooks Park, Carver Park, Clarendon Park, Davis Square Park, Echart Park, Fuller Park, Garfield Park, Hamlin Park, Loyola Park, Ogden Park, Portage Park, Scottsdale Park, Seward Park, Sheridan Park, Simons Park, Taylor (Robert) Park, and Trumbull Park.

The final amateur boxing tournament will be held Nov. 8 in Seward Park. For details about ongoing boxing events and clinics, log onto www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.