B-Town Boxing will host an event next week with former world champion boxer Lamon Brewster. The Nov. 19 event will include a meet and greet with Brewster, as well as a seminar during which Brewster will teach the mechanics and fundamentals of boxing.
The event functions as a fundraiser for the Brewster's Place, Brewster's nonprofit which teaches life skills to underprivileged individuals and for the Rock Steady Boxing Program, a nonprofit which offers those with Parkinson’s an opportunity to participate in a non-contact boxing based fitness program.
Brewster was a professional boxer from 1996 to 2010, and he held the World Boxing Organization heavyweight title from 2004 to 2006. For the first three years of his career, Brewster remained undefeated and in April of 2004, he knocked out Vladimir Klitschko, giving him the title of heavyweight champion of the world.
Rob Scardina, a coach at the B-Town Boxing club, said he hopes that having Lamon Brewster at the event will inspire the community.
“It is an opportunity to motivate individuals through his story and rise to becoming a world champion,” Rob Scardina said.
An active member of the gym, Diana Scardina, Rob Scardina’s wife, loves the environment and community it brings. For Diana and Rob Scardina, they said they see themselves as surrogate parents for the IU students who become part of the program freshman year and stay for the remainder of their education.
“It’s fun to develop a relationship with IU students,” Dina Scardina said.
Lamon Brewster is the second former boxing world champion to visit B-Town Boxing, with Angel Manfredy being the first in 2017. Rob Scardina said he hopes more and more former and current world champions will come to B-Town Boxing and help motivate and inspire the community.
Josh McRoberts, Rob Scardina’s stepson, is an assistant coach at B-Town Boxing and a competitive boxer, who plans on turning pro next year. He said he is looking forward to hearing Brewster’s story of rising up in the ranks of the boxing world.
“It’s a great way for people to come together and learn from a very successful person in and out of the ring,” McRoberts said.
The presence of professional boxers at the event should help reduce a number of misconceptions about the sport regarding its violent nature, Rob Scardina said. The majority of people assume that attending a boxing gym involves getting inside a ring and sparring, while in reality, most of B-Town Boxing members work out alone, focusing on technique one-on-one with a punching bag.
“B-Town Boxing is not about teaching the violence that many consider takes place in boxing but in fact teaching the art and science of boxing,” Rob Scardina said.
The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 at B-Town Boxing at 1525 S Rogers St. Tickets cost $40 before the event and $50 at the door. They can be purchased by calling (812) 391-4532.
The event is open to anyone interested in learning about the sport of boxing, regardless of experience or ability.
