The rhythmic —thwap of a fist knocking a speed bag reverberates down the stairs of the Beautiful Zion Missionary Baptist Church in West Englewood before even reaching the area the Crushers Club boxing gym has called home for the past two years. Collages of photos line the stairwell leading to showing young boys—their little boxing gloves framing their baby faces—next to their more seasoned, teenaged mentors—muscles gleaming with sweat, sometimes mean-mugging the camera.
Because of its model, many of Crushers Club’s members have found incredible success in the ring. Ivry Hall, 16, and Isiah Cook, 20, spar with some of the other teens, black protecting him from their punches. They trade hits and combos, Cook’s golden gloves a blur as he rains down a flurry of blows on his 14-year-old mentee. Jab, jab, hook.
Crushers Club teaches West Englewood boys to fight for their futures#
“It’s better to guide [the kids] than to tell them,” says Hall as the kids start to file in. “If you want to be a role model, you gotta inspire them to do good.”
