By Scott Grooms
Staff Writer
Yates Boxing and Fitness is sending three of his fighters to matches at Rodriguez Boxing Academy in Summerville on August 29th. This will be the first match Yates has sent to competition since opening his gym in May of this year.
Training with Yates, Denzel Stevens is a 28-year-old boxer from Walterboro; he is a 2016 graduate of Colleton County High School. Boxing sparked his interest after losing his mother at nine and he has been training for three years. With a record of 3-1, Denzel credits boxing for shaping his character and community presence. Stevens said, “I was always into combat sports, so I did a karate, and as I got older, I just ventured off into different things, and I eventually found my way back into combat sports.”
He trains under Coach Frederick Yates, who has extensive experience, he previously trained at Rodriguez Boxing Academy under Coach Perry Rodriguez. Denzel added. “It takes dedication. You have to you have to be willing to suffer. I feel like boxing is a different sport, because any other sport you could go in and could get something out of it, but boxing takes from you. Boxing really is just about dedicating yourself to the craft.”
Denzel aims to win nationals and eventually turn pro.
Coach Yates says, “Denzel has a lot of talent, a lot of drive. I think the thing that Walterboro is not known for boxing. This is the first boxing gym in town. If we can get the community to support him, he can go a long way, and that's what I'm trying to do. Just get people to support him. You got a lot of talent out here in Walterboro.” Yates also noted the presence of an amateur girls' league under USA Boxing and is sending two females from his gyms to the fight. "My daughter actually just started boxing, she only started about three months ago, and she's pretty much ready to fight.”
Layla said, “I went from watching boxing when my dad used to help my little brother at a young age. I was in the gym and watched more and more until he opened the gym.” She will be fighting her first fight on the 29th, “Coming up on my first fight, I'm a little nervous, but at the end of the day, I am fighting more experienced people, it's a good lesson.”
Zayisha Kelly is also a newcomer to boxing, she loves the fitness aspect of boxing. Kelly is nervous about her upcoming first fight but is determined to learn and improve. She emphasized the importance of not giving up, believing in oneself, and maintaining courage. Kelly encourages young ladies to persist in boxing, stressing the importance of self-belief and courage.
The fights on the 29th are open to the public and will be held at Rodrigez Boxing Academy at 10120 Bell Wright Rd. Suite B, Summerville. Yates Boxing and Fitness is located at 1108 N. Jefferies Blvd. in Walterboro.
