Many of us are familiar with the phrase ‘down but not out.’ It is a colloquialism that speaks to the adversity many people face in their lifetimes.
However, no one embodies the expression like Alphonso Bailey.
Once a college athlete, Bailey’s path took a drastic turn after the death of his father led him down a road of poor decisions, incarceration and, ultimately, a second chance through boxing.
Now, as the executive director of the Down But Not Out (DBNO) Foundation, Bailey opens the DBNO Boxing Gym on May 10.
The facility at 5825 E. 38th St. is dedicated to mentoring youth and teaching life skills through boxing.
Bailey began at Kentucky State University, where he was a student-athlete. But after his father’s death during his junior year, grief consumed him.
“I didn’t handle death well,” Bailey told the Indianapolis Minority Business Magazine. “I was frustrated, disappointed and I started hanging with bad people doing bad things.”
Bailey recalls robbing stores with his former friends.
“We would hit up stores with guns with no bullets in them just trying to scare them,” Bailey said.
Those choices led to his arrest during a football practice.
“The police pulled me off the field,” Bailey said. “I was scared. I never thought I would go to prison.”
Now, Bailey was facing a 10-year sentence.
The penitentiary, however, became a turning point. While incarcerated, Bailey discovered boxing. His talent caught the attention of prison staff, who connected him with an attorney.
Ultimately, the robbery charges were dropped, and Bailey was released after serving two years and nine months.
Upon his release, Bailey pursued boxing with the same determination that once led him astray. He compiled an impressive amateur record, winning 56 fights, eventually becoming a professional.
It was also around this time that Bailey picked up the nickname “Glory,” a callback to his unwavering faith and accolades in the ring. It would ultimately become a calling card and catchphrase.
“I have had people recognize me on the street and holler ‘Glory,'” Bailey said. “Some of the kids have even said it. That brings me so much joy.”
However, boxing was more than a career — it was a lifeline.
“Boxing saved me,” Bailey said. “It gave me discipline and purpose. I don’t know where I would be without it.”
Yet, Bailey’s true calling emerged outside the ring.
After retiring from boxing in 1989, he focused on family and faith. A documentary about his life, appropriately titled “Down But Not Out,” ignited a new flame within him.
“The documentary took off and people started calling, inviting me to speak,” Bailey said.
Those speaking engagements laid the groundwork for the DBNO Foundation, which blends boxing with mentorship and life skills training.
The foundation’s Lighthouse Program is central to its mission.
“After training, we sit down with the kids and talk about life,” Bailey explained. “We ask, ‘What do you do when things get tough? How do you keep going?'”
The program emphasizes relatability.
“I share my experiences — how I handled trauma, how I asked for help,” Bailey said. “I want them to know it’s okay to need people.”
Indianapolis resident Allan Garnett recalls meeting Bailey at a young age.
“He was a nice guy,” Garnett said. “You wouldn’t know he was a boxer from talking with him. I don’t think there is a more appropriate mentor for the youth.”
Now, Garnett competes and trains in combat sports, giving guys like Bailey their flowers for influencing him to pursue Muay Thai and kickboxing.
For Bailey, success isn’t measured by trophies; Small, meaningful actions measure success.
“When a kid tells me, ‘I bought milk for my family without being asked,’ that’s a win,” Bailey said. “It’s about teaching them to be leaders outside the ring.”
The DBNO Boxing Gym represents the culmination of Bailey’s vision.
Donated by a community supporter, the facility offers boxing training, mentorship and a safe space for youth.
“It is a blessing,” Bailey said. “We’ve got equipment, we’ve got support and we’re ready to change lives.”
Like most nonprofit organizations, funding remains a challenge, but Bailey remains optimistic.
“We’ve been blessed with donors and grants,” Bailey said. “We’re learning, growing and trusting the process.”
Bailey’s message to those facing adversity is simple yet powerful:
“Never give up. Believe it’s possible,” Bailey said. “I used to say, ‘This is going to be the greatest day of my life,’ even in prison. You never know what’s happening on your behalf.”
As the gym’s grand opening approaches, Bailey invites the community to join the movement.
“Bring your kids. We’ll have games, demonstrations and fun,” Bailey said. “This is more than boxing — it’s about hope.”
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on TikTok @HorsemenSportsMedia. For more sports, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
