For too many New York City kids, the story is the same: absent fathers, gang ties, and few role models or outlets. On social media, every slight is magnified, every humiliation broadcast — pushing kids toward choices that can end their young lives.
Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children in America. Last year alone, more than 2,500 kids under 18 were killed by guns — nearly seven every day.
We know boxing can offer one powerful solution.
Founded in 1914, the Police Athletic League in New York was once the cornerstone of community boxing, connecting cops with kids. But in 2010, PAL shut down its boxing programs across all five boroughs. Overnight, hundreds of kids lost the outlet that kept them off the streets. For so many, boxing was more than a sport — it was discipline, confidence, and a way to turn rage into resilience.
That loss was unacceptable. In 2011, we launched Cops & Kids Boxing to fill the void. What began with a handful of cops has grown into a family of teachers, artists, parents, volunteers, and homegrown legends. On a shoestring budget, we built the most successful free amateur boxing program in the country.
Today, we run gyms on Staten Island and in Brooklyn, funded largely by the NYPD Boxing Team, who fight in public exhibitions to keep the lights on. Out of those gyms came the last three Olympians to represent New York City — and more than 90% of our regular members will graduate high school.
Kids like Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington grew up in our Flatbush gym. His brother was murdered in 2010, but Shu Shu found our program — and today he is the Interim WBC Champion of the World. And he’s not alone. We’ve nurtured hundreds of graduates who went on to become civil servants, professionals, and community leaders.
We are bridging the gap between law enforcement and youth, creating common ground and trust where it’s needed most. And the economics are undeniable: it costs taxpayers more than $500,000 to incarcerate one person on Rikers Island for a year — more than it costs us to run all three of our gyms combined.
Now, for the first time in 15 years, free boxing is returning to the Bronx.
On Sept. 8, we will open Bronx Legends Cops & Kids, a 13,000-square-foot boxing academy at 1761 Walton Ave. This collaboration between Bronx Legends Boxing and Cops & Kids will offer a true academy model: structured classes in boxing, fitness, yoga, tutoring, and wellness provided by our partners, Woosaa Wellness. Kids will sign up for time slots, progress through levels, and build resilience — not just as individuals, but as teammates.
The gym is more than a facility. It is mentorship, rehabilitation, and community. Certified USA Boxing coaches will guide fighters who want to compete, while kids seeking fitness and belonging will find the same support. And when training ends, tutors will be there to help them finish their homework.
This new academy was made possible by Bronx Legends Boxing, which led the expansion into the Bronx, and the Procida family, who donated this space within their new affordable housing development. Equipment came from Everlast, Dana White, and the UFC, with financial contributions from Mark Cuban and Giorgos Tsetis.
The NYPD and the NYC Mayor’s Office have also offered their support. But to keep this gym alive — to pay our teachers and trainers what they deserve — we need your help. Donate today to support this mission, and together we will bring free boxing back to all five boroughs.
Too many kids think a gun makes you a legend. We know the truth: boxing creates legends. Ali, Tyson, Foreman — fighters who came from neighborhoods like this, trained in gyms like this, and were mentored by cops, coaches, and community leaders who cared enough to hold mitts for them.
What made them legends wasn’t how many times they got knocked down. It was how fast they got up.
Put down the guns. Pick up the gloves. Let the kids box.
Bulger is the executive director of Bronx Legends Boxing.
