By Farrukh Yusupov

My name is Farrukh Yussupov, and here is my story.Farrukh
I remember sitting in my Economy class at Clay High school, where the teacher was talking about “eminent domain”. Eminent domain is the right of the state to take private property for public use. After that, he showed us a video about the concept. The video showed a small neighborhood boxing gym which was being taken away by its city government to use eminent domain to build a fabulous trade center. Also, it showed all the kids who worked as a team, and who took care of the gym, to give 100% commitment to their Coach and to each other. I thought it wasn’t fair for the city to take that gym, because it was everything and all that the kids had. Besides, if they took the gym, the guys would go back to the streets, and commit crimes, or maybe join gangs. The video impressed me so much, that I wanted to become part of a team like the one in the video. So, I googled “Boxing Clubs in Toledo”, and the International Boxing Club, at 1717 Adams Street, popped up. I wrote down the number, and asked my host mother to find out about it, or maybe call there. She said that it would probably be expensive and that we would need to buy equipment, too. But one day we drove there, and assistant coach Kelly Boucha opened the front door, and greeted us with open arms. She gave us an application and told us that the training was free, the only item we needed to purchase were hand wraps. The club provided all of the equipment that was needed for training. Kelly asked us to bring back the consent forms and said that we would have an appointment with Coach Harry. That’s how I got into boxing, and not just at any gym, but the International Boxing Club, I am really proud to be a part of the family.
So, after that I started to train, but our boxing gym is actually more than a place for working out. I was amazed that the Coaches and members put together a lot of programs for us as well, with one important example being to take care of our grades. Every day, before practice we go to the IBC Learning Center to work on our homework. We have a tutor, whose name is Ms. Joann, she helps us with our homework and we really appreciate it. Also, we have a classroom with 15 computers to help assist us with our education. These computers are for school purposes only. Second, every Wednesday we have a guest speaker. It is really important for us, because good people come to our facility and share their life experience with us, so we can learn how to do the right and best things in life. Also, on the last Thursday of each month, we go to St. Paul’s Community Center and serve meals to the homeless and less fortunate people of our city. It has been a great experience for me as I see these people on the streets daily and it makes me realize how lucky I am. For any athlete, it is very important to give back to the community.
Right now, I can’t imagine my life without my gym, or without my Coaches and the many new friends I have made. Boxing gives me a lot. It teaches a growing man many things about himself and how to treat others, at a point in his life where focus, concentration and discipline are of more importance than ever before. Though probably, the most important thing we learn is how to be a team, and to work as a team. If we didn’t work as a team, we wouldn’t have everything that we have now. I really want to say thanks to the Coaches, the members, my new friends and the sponsors of my boxing home… the International Boxing Club.