Twin Cities Boxing Gym Keeps Kids Out Of Trouble
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - The Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight is bringing attention back to the sport of boxing.
And for one Twin Cities boxing trainer, the timing couldn't be more perfect.
Dalton Outlaw opened Element Boxing and Fitness a few years ago, as a way to keep kids out of trouble and get them involved in a sport.
Owning his own gym has been a dream of Dalton's since he started going to the Bombers Boxing Club when he was 8.
"I grew up there as a kid," he said. "Pretty much wandered in there as a kid and pretty much never left. It became a part of my life. My everyday life."
Now he wants to pass his knowledge of the sport onto a new generation.
"He's a great teacher. Because whenever I'm tired he pushes me," 12-year-old boxer Lance Xiong said.
Dalton is bringing kids to his gym in hopes of bringing boxing back.
He wants to create interest in the sport while teaching life lessons to his students.
Dalton trains 20 kids, ranging in age from 6 to 17.
And one of his rules is that the boxing stays in the gym.
"The biggest thing we can teach them is how to be disciplined, how to channel that anger, or whatever it is they have, and put it back into something positive," Dalton said.
It's working for 13-year-old Asher Cohen.
"I've learned skill. A lot of skill. Probably the best thing that's ever happened to me," Asher said.
Asher began training at Element two years ago, and his mom has noticed two big changes. He's gained confidence and learned how to knock-out his homework.
"I tell him, 'Asher, you know, you need to get your homework done if you want to go to boxing.' His homework is always done just so he can be here," Asher's mom, Laura Vokaty, said. "It's been amazing to see the change. The light is back in his eyes."
And it's all part of the plan.
When kids leave the gym, Dalton wants them to have three skills: hard work, dedication and discipline.
"Don't just take boxing and say, 'Oh, I'm a fighter.' Take those things and become a better person. And that's one of the aspects of the gym that we enjoy and teach the community and kids," Dalton said.
Dalton doesn't just train kids, he trains people of all ages.
He also works with local police departments, training officers and other staff.
