History of the IBC

By:  Kelly Boucha & Trayvone Mathis

                 

 

  Our first grand opening was on June 1st, 1998.  Even though Coaches 

Harry and Jozsef had a good program going, Coach Jozsef missed his homeland.  He was also disappointed by the attitudes of the youths that came to the gym.  Coach Jozsef Szanto left the International Boxing Club in 1999.  He went back to his homeland homesick and disappointed.  Coach Harry did not give up on his boxing gym.  Coach James Merriweather soon joined in 2001.  He is with the International Boxing Club to this day.  With his new assistant coach, Harry had time to think about what else he could do to help his members.  This is when he began to ask for the member’s report cards.  Once he saw what kind of grades the majority of the kids were earning, it was clear that he had to start a Learning Center of some kind.  So, Coach Harry set up a tutoring program out of his private office.  Members brought their homework every day.  They had 45 minutes to do their school work at the end of each workout.  The program was perfect, until his office became over crowded.  As a solution, Coach Harry began to build a classroom.  He had no idea that the building was about to be closed by the management of the building.  Coach Harry had to move the gym to a different location.  He soon found a vacant commercial building.  The building would take a lot of effort to re-make it into a gym.  With the help of the members, Coach Harry was able to relocate all the equipment from the old building on Front St. to the new building on Adams and 18th Street.

 As well as build and install new walls and install all new gym equipment.  All of this was achieved in 28 days.

  Most people don’t understand the challenges and work that comes with operating a gym.  Coach Harry has gone through a lot to keep the IBC’s doors open.  New never ending problem of money has kept Coach Harry in a constant hustle for grant money and other forms of donations.  Even though Coach works hard for the gym he doesn’t do it alone.  Coach Harry gets help and support from his gym members, assistant coach James Merriweather and soon to be Media Director of the IBC, Angel Milo.  Everyday Coach Harry reminds us that we must work together as a team and we can only be as strong as our team. We are proud to say that we have a World Class Team.

Coach Harry has been a champion for us and he expects us to do the same.  It’s like he says, “It’s great to have a champion in the ring, but it’s more important to have champions outside the ring.”