“Once an ABC fighter, always an ABC fighter”
Philadelphia has an impressive track record of producing some of the best boxers in the world, from legends like Joe Frazier, Jimmy Young and Charlie “Choo Choo” Brown to more recent champions like Bernard Hopkins, David Reid and Jesse Hart. Commercially, the sport of boxing may have peaked in the 20th century, but it still thrives in many North Philly neighborhoods today.
North Philly was once home to two world famous boxing venues: Joe Frazier’s gym at Broad Street & Glenwood Avenue and the now-closed Blue Horizon, once called the “last great boxing venue in the country” by Sports Illustrated and the “number-one boxing venue in the world” by The Ring. With these businesses no longer in operation, local boxers look to Athletic Recreation Center for training and entertainment. All year, Recreation Leader Fred Jenkins trains boxers of all ages and skill levels at the Athletic Boxing Club (ABC Gym). Every fall, Jenkins and a team of Athletic Recreation Center staff organize the annual Lucien Blackwell Amateur Boxing Tournament, which attracts rising amateur boxers and spectators from all around the Mid-Atlantic region.
Although Athletic Recreation Center was built in 1912, the boxing program hadn’t come along until 1968. Not long after the boxing program began, Jenkins became involved, first as a boxer and then as a trainer. In 1973, Jenkins took over as the head of the boxing program at ABC Gym. That was also the first year of the Department of Recreation Boxing Tournament, which was later renamed the Lucien Blackwell Amateur Boxing Tournament in 2003.
Some of the notable champs that trained under Jenkins’ guidance at ABC Gym are Charlie “Choo Choo” Brown, Marvin Garris, Rockin’ Rodney Moore, Zahir Raheem, David Reid, Malik Scott, Randy Griffin, Anthony “The Messenger” Thompson, Bryant Jennings, and countless others. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Sports and Athletics Coordinator Michael Grubb said “Fred has trained so many champions. Fred will take a boxer that has never been in the ring before and work them from their first step in the ring to a championship fight.”
The program is open to boxers as young as eight years old. Beginners work on footwork, how to hold their hands, basic punches, cardio and calisthenics. As they progress, Jenkins’ boxers spend five days a week training to build up strength, speed and agility, ultimately being able to do up to 200 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, 50 chin-ups, 12 rounds on the heavy bag, and 5 minutes on the speed bag in each training session, in addition to 3-5 mile runs three times a week. As Jenkins’ students develop skills and improve their fighting abilities, they look forward to the tournament as their first amateur fight.
(Left: Nahir Albright, pictured with his brother at the 14th Annual Lucien Blackwell Boxing Tournament at Athletic Recreation Center)
“Training at Athletic is an honor,” said Nahir Albright, who started training at Athletic when he was fourteen years old. Now twenty, his years of hard work have paid off and he reached his goal of becoming pro. “Many great Olympians and world champions came from this gym. [Becoming pro] is truly a dream come true. Having Mr. Fred as a trainer is a blessing, he’s more than just a trainer; he’s also a mentor and always guides me in the right direction.” Typically, boxers will stay at ABC Gym until they turn pro. “Most fighters still keep in touch. Once an ABC fighter, always an ABC fighter,” said Jenkins. Since Nahir turned pro in early September, he didn’t compete in the Lucien Blackwell Amateur Tournament this year, but he showed up to lend a hand and support his fellow boxers.
Every year, Jenkins works tirelessly to pull off this tournament, with the help of his friends, family, the staff at Athletic and anyone from the boxing program that is able to help out. “They all are the behind-the-scenes heroes of this event,” said Grubb. A great amount of support also comes from Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. Her husband, Lucien Blackwell, was a boxer in the Army. After his passing, the tournament was renamed the Lucien Blackwell Amateur Boxing Tournament in his honor. Along with year-round support, Jannie and her son, Tommy, usually attend the tournament as spectators.
(Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts made a special appearance at the opening night of the tournament)
Over the three days of the 14th Annual Lucien Blackwell Amateur Tournament, upwards of 1,200 spectators, coaches, and trainers watched the 37 fights. On opening night of the tournament, the crowd excitedly greeted Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts, a famous boxer that fought in the mid-1970s. Watts and a few other special guests came out to watch the event. A couple days before the tournament, Jenkins named several of his students that he thought were rising competitors to look out for, including Kahlim Mills and Greg Price, who both won their bouts by unanimous decisions.
Anyone who observes Jenkins alongside his fighters and colleagues will see he puts all of his heart into his training. Right now, the PA Hall of Fame trainer is focused on getting his guys ready for the 2020 Olympics. He’s looking for more fighters and working with the ones currently under his guidance in hopes that they can move on to the Olympic Trials. Knowing of the countless successful fighters he has trained, this goal is well within his reach.
Find a complete list of boxing programs in PPR’s recreation centers here.
