Former heavyweight champion of the world Buster Douglas visits Massachusetts to speak to police youth program

Acting Superintendent Barry Golner is pleased to report that former heavyweight champion of the world Buster Douglas visited the Lowell Police Youth Services Boxing Gym on Thursday.

Douglas, who earned the heavyweight title by knocking out Mike Tyson in one of boxing’s greatest upsets on Feb. 11, 1990, took in a workout session of the young boxers before he spoke to them about the importance of hard work, posed for photos, and signed gear and photos of his knockout punch against Tyson.

Douglas lost the heavyweight title eight months later when he lost to Evander Holyfield. He boxed from 1981 to 1999 and had a record 38 wins, 25 knockouts, six losses and a draw. Douglas was in Lowell Thursday as a guest of honor at the Golden Gloves boxing tournament.

Douglas told those in attendance at the boxing gym that he started boxing at just 10 years old, and also played basketball for a team that won a state championship in high school.

“You’re doing a great job working hard, and listening to your coaches,” Douglas said. “Hard work pays off. If you continue to work hard great things will happen to you.”

The Boxing Gym was opened last year thanks to donations from the Officer Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund, a grant from the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Shannon Community Safety Initiative, and numerous community partners.

The Lowell Police Youth Services Boxing Club offers an opportunity to learn about boxing from volunteer coaches and mentors, including legendary Lowell boxing trainer Jackie O’Neill, while also enjoying an activity that improves physical fitness, confidence and coordination.

Lowell Police employees who staff the program include Officer Dominic Lessieur, who is a former Golden Gloves champion, and Officers Emmanuel Antonetty, Jonathan Rivera, Alec Golner, Christal Downs, Emaly Bouasri, Tim Sullivan and Erica Torres, as well as Sgt. Mike Marshall. Former Golden Gloves champion and retired City of Lowell employee Keith Rudy, and retired Lowell Police Officer Billy Callahan also volunteer with the program.

The club is free for city residents ages 10 to 18.The club meets for training in two sessions Monday through Thursday at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Douglas told young boxers that he didn’t win all of his fights, but that he always put in his best effort. “You’ve gotta put hard work into whatever you do,” he said.

That lesson was absorbed by the young boxers in attendance.

“It was really cool,” Francisco Perez, 14, said of meeting the former champion. “He taught us that hard work always pays off and that if you keep working hard you will accomplish great things.”