Little Village’s New Youth Boxing Club

After years of running boxing programs out of borrowed spaces in Chicago Park District field houses, Chicago Youth Boxing Club’s (CYBC’s) Executive Director, Robert Ramos, envisioned a new boxing gym and program for youth in Little Village. With the support of LVCDC, that vision and dream became a reality.

CYBC’s mission to provide role models and positive outlets for inner-city youth resonated with Jaime DeLeon, New Communities Program Director at LVCDC.  “This meets a need we identified in our Quality of Life Plan,” says Jaime.  To help make the gym a reality, LVCDC connected Robert to the Local Initiative Support Corporation which provided two separate grants totaling $36,500 for the start-up of the boxing gym and program.

CYBC now has a home of its own.  Located in the basement of La Villita Community Church, there is a shiny, 2500 square foot boxing gym complete with a brand new regulation boxing ring, 5 heavy bags, two speed bags, two double end bags, and a work-out area.  

On November 16th, about 250 people crowded the sanctuary of La Villita Church to celebrate the grand opening of the CYBC gym and to watch an amateur boxing show.

The gym will serve boys and girls ages 8-18 through a 12-week program model. Community members will also be allowed to purchase open membership on a monthly basis.  Learn more about Chicago Youth Boxing at www.cybcboxer.com.