HOUSTON – A boxing gym established by former gang members to help keep kids out of trouble is about to host a major competition.
CDM is at it again. No longer cornered in a Greenspoint Mall store front, the gym named for its fighters courage, determination and motivation now owns 15,000 square feet in the food court. Next week, it will host some of the region’s finest junior amateur fighters in a Golden Gloves competition.
“I used to get bullied a lot, (then) I decided, ‘Mom, I would like to defend myself and learn how to kick some butt,’” said boxer Arianna Rodriguez.
Rodriguez and D’Angelo Keyes will compete in the event.
“I just tell them to do your best,” said Fred Crowe, one of CDM’s co-founders. “As long as I see (them) go in and do their best, win or lose.”
Crowe’s fighters are training hard. And like so many others at the gym, they feel like champions just being a part of CDM.
“It makes me think I have so much talent and I can embrace it,” Rodriguez said. “I’m not afraid to be who I am.”
It also helps keeps kids and teens off the streets.
“Growing up, I had a rough life, without getting into details,” Keyes said. “They’ve gotten me a job. So, I’ve been working and training. I come here every day and it keeps me out of trouble. I don’t have nothing to worry about. Anything I need I can just ask them and they’re there for me.”
Mentors like Greg “Doc” Brown, a retired trainer and military man, are helping mold new youth who join every week.
“We’re loving on these kids,” said Charles “Beast Mode” Brown, another CDM co-founder. “The parents come in here with situations like, he don’t have a dad. We’re dads. We’re ministers. We’re what we need to be to take care of our community.”
“None of (the kids) are wearing their pants down (below) their butt,” Greg Brown said. “They’re very respectful. They’re taking care of their business.”
With each step, CDM fighters feel they are moving closer to their goal: winning at life.
