Claressa Shields offers free boxing opportunity to Flint-area youth

By Zachary Clingenpeel  https://www.mlive.com

Mt. Morris, Michigan- Around 90 children and young adults ages 7 and up stood in lines inside AT Fitness practicing jabbing in rhythm.

Claressa Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed women’s world middleweight champion, walked down the line, observing the punches, and helping to guide the kids.

When a kid would lower their hand to their chest following a jab, Shields would tap her glove lightly on their temple to show them that they left their face undefended.

Shields is no stranger to bringing the art of boxing back to her community.

In the past, Shields has hosted free lessons at the same gym including a summer program this year. Shields began a new round of free lessons Monday, Jan. 9 at the gym in Mt. Morris Township.

“Boxing saved my life and boxing changed who I am and made me a better person,” Shields said. “So I really want to be able to give that same thing back to the community here in Flint. There’s so many kids who need an outlet for their anger and their stress and a just a counselor. I want to be that to them. I want to build them physically and mentally.”

Boxing lessons will take place from 5-7 p.m. Monday through Friday. In the first two days, students learned the fundamental punches of boxing including jabs, uppercuts and hooks.

While the program is free for students, the Shields Community Outreach Corporation is accepting donations for the program from participating families or other community members.

Donations included boxing supplies including gloves, wraps, as well as cash donations.

Shields said she has ambitions to expand the program to help kids get to the point where they compete in boxing matches.

“Some kids in here actually have a lot of great potential and can actually fight inside the ring,” Shields said. “We want to get them there and be able to have them travel.”

The program has an itinerary to help kids go from learning the basics to working with gloves in the ring.

Volunteers from Shields’ team and the Flint-area boxing community helped small groups of students at the programs at different stages.

“I’m just happy that the Flint community and the Beecher community trusts me with their kids and knows that I want what’s best for Genesee County as a whole,” she said. “I want all these kids to just be great.”