Find Your Grit.
Strength.
Purpose.

Keith Rubino

Fighter

Twenty-eight year old Keith was looking for an outlet to pass the time after work. Keith has been in recovery for @TIME; his time at Somerville Boxing Club keeps his mind focused on his goals, and gives him an outlet for expression, and a way to keep fit and stay social with men and women his age. "It helps you mentally, not just physically," he says of the training regimen. "It's good to be around people that like to see you succeed."

A former navy member, the physical fitness and the sense of belonging are both valuable to Keith. However, he wasn't always so open. "I'm very cautious of who I let into my life, and who I consider a friend. Coming here, I'm learning to interact better with people, to let people in and learn to be more sociable." He believes the environment of the club has played a big part in his transformation, and his continued success. "People here want to see you succeed, and they genuinely like you. It's like a big family here." Even having had no background in boxing, the other members, trainers and volunteers here "welcomed him in" and worked with him to improve in many areas.

With his life back on track, Keith is looking forward to getting back to work, both on the mat and in his career.

Dennis Willcox

Trainer

Dennis Willcox knows the value of good conditioning and the team environment. The Everett football coach and former Golden Gloves boxer has been involved in sports most of his life. Dennis grew up as part of the Somerville Boxing Club, and now he's hoping to pass on the benefits of boxing to the next generation-- including his own son.

Dennis spends much of his free time at the club, helping to train and condition the members and fighters that make up the club community. Three of the members are Dennis' own recruits- members of the Everett football team who come to the club as a way to keep their skills and physical fitness sharp. He sees the club as a great way to hone not only physical fitness, but discipline as well. "To show up every single day and work out in a boxing gym is not an easy thing," he says. "It's not like Bally's or LA Fitness, or getting on a treadmill."

The regimen of training and conditioning serves another, more important purpose. "Somerville is a tough city, and the surrounding cities, too." Dennis sees boxing as a way of giving kids focus and an expressive outlet for the pressures of life in the city. "I want to show them that boxing has been good to me, and it could be good to them also."

He sees as many rewards as the kids he trains. One of the best parts of the job, to his thinking: "The reward of playing a positive part in a kid's life," he says, looking toward the bustle of training and sparring going on in the background.

He believes the club is a place where you can come to change your life, no matter what your circumstances. It's also a place where you can experience a family environment, and a chance to be equals. He's experienced it firsthand. "Whether they went to Yale or they went to jail. We never turn our back on anyone. It the twenty-something years I've been coming here, they've never turned their back on me."