Honkytonk Hitman

Participants must make good grades, say prayers

Need somewhere to do some indoor training?

The La Vergne Boxing Club has opened a new facility at 5499 Murfreesboro Road, Suite I.

Coach Mike Rodgers, who is the President of the Middle Tennessee Golden Gloves and the Vice-President for USA Boxing's Southeastern Association is overseeing the new endeavor.

“The vision is simple,” states Owner Mike Rodgers, President of the Middle Tennessee Golden Gloves and the Vice-President for USA Boxing's Southeastern Association. “All children need structure, discipline, education, and guidance, which is what we offer through our Amateur Boxing program that is free to all children 8 and above.”
Mike Rodgers was a five-time State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion with almost 200 amateur and 27 pro boxing matches under his belt. Rodgers topped off his pro career by winning the World WBF Cruiserweight championship before retiring from pro boxing with a record of 25 wins and two losses. With over 30 years involvement in the sport of boxing, Rodgers now volunteers his time and experience to run the La Vergne Boxing Club.

“Upon hearing the news that I was rebuilding a new boxing gym I got several calls from boxing coaches that I had worked with over the years that wanted to know what they could do to help with our efforts,” explains Rodgers, who recently opened the new gym. “A coach in Knoxville gave the team headgear, sparring gloves, and heavy bags and another from Arkansas gave us a boxing ring to get us back on our feet. A coach in Nashville even gave us steps for our new ring and banners for the walls.”

The amateur boxing community came to Rodgers' aid and the restructuring of his gym was very quick.

The La Vergne Boxing Club has several volunteers that contribute to its success along with head coach Mike Rodgers. Alex Chang coaches the B-Team, Kevin Page coaches the C-Team, and Jeff Stricherz is the strength and conditioning coach. Pastor Todd Kirkland, Dennis Robison, Chance Webb, and Brian Davis all contribute to the Bible Study program that is offered. And businessman Eddie Farrell was significant in his donation of a location and site for the new establishment.

Being the only son of a Hall-of-Fame boxing coach and world famous boxing cutman Ray Rodgers, Rodgers started his training by the time he was 5 years old. “My father is 73 years old now and is the current president for both the Silver and Golden Gloves programs for the entire nation. Before I was old enough to know the difference between a fish hook and a left hook I would tag along with my father to pick up children from all over the city and take them to the gym and back home after practice.”

After a successful amateur and pro career as a boxer, Rodgers decided in 2007 that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. Now he finds himself picking up the boxers and bringing them to the gym.
“The rules were simple back then,” he adds. “You have good manners, learn discipline, make passing grades, try your hardest, and say your prayers or you wouldn't get to box. Plus, boxing didn't cost a dime for anyone other then the annual registration fee with USA boxing so everyone was doing it.”

Recognizing that there were not any free programs around anymore for children to learn how to box, Rodgers went into action.
“I volunteer all of my time and my own money to this program so I am not looking for fame or fortune,” Rodgers states. “I may never coach an Olympic boxer or have a household name come out of this gym. But at the end of the day, if they leave there with better manners, learn discipline, make passing grades, and say their prayers then I will have made a difference in their lives and our community and that is all that counts.”

The La Vergne Boxing Club is home to the A-Team concept that was designed by Coach Mike Rodgers to help children understand where they were skill wise in the boxing program and also help them understand what they needed to accomplish to rise to the next level. All of the boxers make up the La Vergne Boxing Club that is split up into 3 different teams by skill levels that are labeled A, B, and C.
The C-Team boxers are brand new to the program and are taught the basic punches, footwork, and conditioning, but they are not allowed to strike a heavy bag, speed bag, double-end bag or spar. The B-Team boxers earn a locker in the gym and are allowed to strike a heavy bag, speed bag, double-end bag and spar with other B-Team and A-Team members. At this level the conditioning training is intensified, but they are still not allowed to compete. The A-Team boxers have their boxing picture framed and hung on the wall of the gym for everyone to see. They are the only boxers that are eligible to represent the La Vergne Boxing Club at boxing competitions that Rodgers takes them to every weekend.
Even though the boxing is free there are some requirements that every child must adhere to in order to have the opportunity to participate in the program. All boxers must make a C or above on all of their grades at school and provide a copy of their report card to keep on file.
“No person has ever reached excellence in anything without putting in the hard work first, states Rodgers. “The A-Team concept is more than just boxing; it is about structure and discipline in every aspect of their life. To be on the A-Team they will make good grades, they will have good manners, they will say their prayers, they will try their hardest, and they must never quit. The A-Team concept is a blueprint for a child to follow so that they can achieve success in their life regardless of the career they choose.”

Rodgers vision is different then most coaches in the sense that boxing is not the end result for him, but it is merely the beginning.
“It is only a door that opens up other opportunities to make a difference in these kid's lives,” explains Rodgers. “God has led me here to this moment to step up and hopefully do great things for our community with this program and I did it the only way that I know how, I came out swinging.”

For more information, contact Coach Mike Rodgers at 615-478-7067.

Michelle Burke writes about sports for Smyrna a.m. She can be reached at mgbsports@gmail.com.