By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a delay of almost two years, former professional boxer Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt has finally opened his Eastside Boxing Club at the Jungle Club, Fox Hill.

The former featherweight contender, back in the area where he got his genius and eventually had three epic fights with Ray Minus Jr, said he is eager to pass on his skills to the future generation in the wholesome environment that he is providing in the old dance hall.

The venue is not fully completed, but Pratt said it’s at the point where he can offer boxing lessons to the youngsters in the eastern end of the island.

“This has been my dream to come back in Fox Hill to start my programme,” Pratt said. “I’ve been working on trying to get the club open for a while, but I just haven’t been able to do it until now. I’m just so happy that it is now open so I can fulfill my dream of teaching and training those young men the sport and also keeping them off the street.”

More than 10 youngsters were on hand Wednesday as The Tribune visited the club where they worked out on the training bags and on the floor of the boxing ring that is still in need of the ropes around it. There is still a lot more work to be done on the inside, but Pratt said it’s better than not having a venue at all.

“I really got serious about a year ago when I passed around the park and I saw so many young boys just hanging around with nothing to do,” said Pratt, now a taxi driver by profession. “What’s better than boxing? It’s been good to me because not only did I get to stay off the streets after I came out of the Boys Industrial School, but I got an opportunity to travel around the world.”

Pratt, who grew up in the area as a troubled young man, said he was disappointed when he contacted a number of business persons for assistance of building material and the only person who responded was Steve Barr. But Pratt said that in no way has that diminished his plans to make the facility one of the best on the island.

“These same boys I’m trying to recruit are some of the same boys who I could end up saving from destruction,” he said. “If it wasn’t for boxing, I don’t think I would be here today. Boxing saved my life and that is why I’m here trying to save some other young men.”

There’s still a need for paint, a canvas for the floor of the ring and the ropes to place around the ring. More wood is also required and or actual windows. Additionally, once the interior is completed, Pratt said he will be in need of bleachers for spectators to be seated.

Anyone interested is asked to contact Pratt at 466-4822, email eastsideamateurboxingclub@hotmail.com or visit him daily from 3:30 to 6pm or 9am to noon on Saturday.

“This is a challegne. We’re about 80 per cent ready, but I just want to get it open so I can get these young men off the street,” Pratt said.

To ensure that the club is in full swing, Pratt has gotten some assistance in setting up the stage from his former rival, Ray Minus Jr, who currently operates the Champion Amateur Boxing Club on Wulff Road. And Pratt has brought on another former rival, John ‘the Beast’ Wesley, to assist with the training of the youngsters.

Wesley said when he was contacted by Pratt to help out, he couldn’t resist.

“I’ve been around the sport for a long time as a competitor, now I get the opportunity to share some of the skills I’ve developed with the younger boxers,” he said. “They’re going to learn how to box and I’m going to be learning how to coach, so I think it would be something good for all of us.”

While he indicated that it was all business when he and Pratt fought, he is happy to know that they can put all that behind them and concentrate on the development of boxers to continue the rich tradition in the sport.

Bernard ‘Ping’ Frasier, a local community activist and fellow taxi driver, said he saw the importance of the gym and decided to come on board and assist his long-time friend.

“I think it’s a good thing where the young people can come out and learn the sport,” Frasier said. “It’s always good that he can come back and give something to the community where he came from. So I tip my hat off to him and I’m here to support him 100 per cent.

“The only thing we are looking for is some paint and some wood and we are ready to go. We want to complete the gym so that we can get it open and get these young people off the street in a safe environment where parents won’t have to worry about where their children are.”

Sharon Henfield, a single mother of five boys ranging in ages from 6-18, said she was delighted when she saw Pratt getting the gym started because it provides her with an opportunity to watch her children as they participate in something that they have always been interested in doing.

“There is only so much a woman can teach boys, so when two of them told me that they always wanted to do boxing, I felt this was the perfect opportunity for them,” she said. “I’ve known Quincy from the time he was competing, so I am pleased to see him doing this. I think I’m even going to get involved, even if it’s just for me to stay in shape.”

So far, the top boxer in the club is Teneil Babbs, who was actually discovered by Pratt, although he has been working out and training with Ronn Rodgers’ Strikers Boxing Club in the Golden Gates Shopping Centre.

“I was working in the government programme and I decided to help coach the boxing programme. That was when Quincy Pratt saw me and realised that I had some potential,” Babbs said. “I was always an athletic young man so it was easy for me to make that transition.

“With him finally opening the club up here, it’s going to give me more motivation to be in this environment because I really want to take my career to the next level. I hope that one day I can qualify to compete at the Olympic Games before I turn pro and try to fight for a world title.”

At age 22, Babbs said he looks forward to the day when the gym is finally completed so that he can really show off his skills. But for now, he said he is excited about training and helping to motivate the young boxers who are all just getting started in the sport under the supervision of Pratt.