From July 18-19 the Indiana Black Expo (IBE) will host its 45th Annual Summer Celebration Boxing Showcase. Sarge Johnson Boxing Club, a premier boxing facility located in Indianapolis, will sanction the showcase. The purpose of the showcase is to highlight the achievements and stories of Indianapolis’ boxing legends.
The Boxing Showcase will host amateur boxing clubs from Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, St. Louis and Ohio. From aspiring youths to boxers who have won the Golden Gloves multiple times, the showcase has something for everyone.
Bob Chambers, founder of Sarge Johnson Boxing Club and Indiana Black Expo boxing has boxed in the Air Force and overseas. He came back to Indianapolis to start the club.
“Sarge Johnson was a friend of mine and we worked together with kids. He took them all over this place, out of the country and we were together a week before he died. I got a call that weekend saying ‘Sarge Johnson’s plane went down’ and I was torn to pieces. We were close. That’s why we named the club after him,” said Chambers.
Chambers believes a major problem with youth is they are misguided and do not have a figure to look up to that shows them the right path to take. Sarge Johnson Boxing Club is working to help get youth off the street by giving them a positive learning environment.
“It’s been beautiful, we have worked with thousands of youngsters, some becoming pharmacist, ministers, police officers, sheriffs, state troopers, correctional officers, dentist and fire fighters, as well as becoming productive citizens. They were faithful, in (the gym) everyday and I’ve never had a problem with any of them. Some come back to the gym and work as trainers to help our youth,” said Chambers.
Chambers has worked with fighters such as Muhammed Ali and Floyd Mayweather Jr. He explains a moment in his childhood when he waited for boxing champion Joe Lewis to arrive.
“He pated me on the head and that was the best thing in the world that could have happened to me. People really love boxing and I just hope it gets back to what it used to be,” mentioned Chambers.
Indianapolis has played a pivotal role in the history of boxing in the state over the years and the boxing showcase gives the community another chance to appreciate the contributions from Sarge Johnson, Colin “Champ” Chaney, and champion Marvin Johnson.
Among those who will be honored will be Sarge Johnson, Marcus McIntyre, “Sugar” Ray Seales, J.B. Williamson, Lamon Brewster and Marvin Johnson. Johnson, according to Chambers, is “one individual that stands out as being uniquely deserving” of the honor.
“(Johnson is) an accomplished amateur, professional and ambassador of the success for the city, state, nation and the world and he is one of ours,” mentioned Chambers.
Pat Van Doren, a committee member of IBE said Indiana has many success stories and many are just like residents today.
“We have success stories now, Marvin of course is a success story but the prosecutor in Anderson, Ind., Rodney Cunnings, is a product of amateur boxing. He was from a broken home and we gave him a scholarship through the Golden Gloves, going on to college and he is a success story,” she said.
Every year the Golden Gloves offers scholarships for boxers, giving individuals a chance to improve their standing in life.
“This city is such a growing, thriving city; yes we have our negative elements like all cities, but we have such positive things in the city. We are volunteers and this is a way for us to give back to the community, the kids and it’s a labor of love,” stated Van Doren.
Admission tickets are required to enter the IBE on July 18 at 1 p.m. to view the Boxing Showcase. On July 19 at 2 p.m. the admission to the Boxing Showcase is free of charge.
Contact the Indiana Black Expo office at (317) 925-2702 for additional details. Tickets to the exhibition hall are available at all Ticketmaster locations, at the IBE Box Office and Indianablackexpo.com.
