The sounds of gloves hitting heavy bags permeated the Marin City Boxing Club this week as several young men prepared to step into the ring Saturday for the community’s first fight event in five years.
The event — a fundraiser — coincides with the recent opening of the new boxing club space in the community where Edward “Boone” Green works with young people throughout the county, honing skills and imparting wisdom.
“Working with kids and teaching is important,” said Green, as he walked into the Manzanita Center gymnasium where the event will be held. “The kids love it. They really get something out of it.”
A ring will be brought in for the event and it will be governed by U.S. amateur boxing rules.
Green used to hold bouts three or four times a year in Marin City, but over the last five years he focused on general fitness training for youths and adults, as well as building the new boxing facility. With the latter goal achieved, Green said it was time to start the fights again.
The new Marin City Boxing Club space is three times the size of the old one, which was housed nearby. It is also outfitted with more equipment, such as weights and cardio machines donated by the Bay Club and YMCA of Marin.
In preparation for the bouts, the young fighters work out at the boxing club, which opened late last year.
Green works with the young boxers in the club’s ring, teaching them the fine points of the sport — jabbing, punching and blocking.
Peterson Denois of Novato, who will have his first bout ever Saturday, donned his gloves and was readying to work out.
“The adrenaline is definitely there,” he said. “I’m excited and nervous. I have been working with Boone. He’s tough, but we learn. This is definitely a good thing to do. It keeps you out of trouble.”
Khari Haynes of Marin City, who also will fight Saturday, said the club is an important part of his community.
“It’s like family here. You are stepping into a world of positive people here,” said Haynes, who had just finished pounding a bag. “We all work out together and help each other out. Getting in the ring, it’s a whole other world and it’s you only.”
There will be 17 bouts Saturday at the event, which will raise money for One Kid at A Time, a nonprofit that aims to help the boxing club.
“The idea is to raise funds to help out Ed and to do more structured training and to get more equipment,” said Kentfield resident Peter Thompson, a retired public works contractor who donated more than $100,000 to help build the club. “We want to get the whole community involved.”
Bouts will include amateur boxers from Tamalpais, Novato and Redwood high schools as well as some from Sonoma County high schools. They will do battle with other club fighters from the Bay Area.
“It’s going to be a good show, a really good show,” Green said with a smile.