Powell club spreads love of ‘sweet science’

The organizers of a youth boxing club that sprung up in Powell late last year have begun sharing their passion for the sweet science with other communities in the Big Horn Basin, including Greybull which was the site of a two-day youth camp last week.
The Greybull Recreation District offered the camp, promoting it as a way to learn the basic fundamentals of the sport in a fun, non-contact manner.  Not counting the two who came with one of the instructors, the camp attracted 10 kids, with six in the younger group (grades one through five) and four in the older group (grades six and up).
David Holland, a Greybull native, is one of the driving forces behind the Post 26 Big Horn Basin Boxing Club.  He led the camp with help from a couple of boxers, Adrian and Clint, who squared off in an actual match on the final day.
Holland said he started boxing in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  “Where we were living, it was offered as a free program and it really made a difference in a lot of kids lives,” he said. “When we moved to Powell, it didn’t have a boxing club.”
Holland set out to change that and found a willing partner in the commander of Powell’s American Legion post, who was interested in adding some sort of outreach program.  Soon after came the official establishment of the nonprofit Big Horn Basin Youth Empowerment Project.
“Our goal is to serve all the youth in the Big Horn Basin,” he said. “If they’re under 18, they can come in and train with us for free.
“We don’t just come in and do boxing all the time. We teach them what it means to have good character.  We come up with different words — what it means to have integrity, respect, honesty -- and we emphasize them in practice to develop the kind of culture we want.”
The program is growing in Powell, with 30 kids now participating.
Holland said he was pleasantly surprised by the interest in Greybull. “I thought we’d have like five kids, so having 10 is amazing,” he said. “Credit Heather (Howe, the director of the rec district) for reaching out.  I was born here and love this town, so anytime I can give back, I’m going to do it.”
Holland said he would love to offer another youth camp in Greybull.
In addition to the kids, the club also has 25 adult members.  A couple of them fought for the first time on a card in Rawlins on May 4.  The club will also be hosting “Fight Night at the Fair,” July 23 at the fairgrounds in Powell.
“I truly believe boxing teaches people to be good human beings, which I realize may sound funny when you think about boxing and people punching people,” he said. “But you have to learn how to have respect for your opponent, what it means to work hard, have integrity and commit to coming in and practicing every week.”