In many Chicago neighborhoods, there are inner-city youth that lack positive role models. Several of these youngsters are being raised in dangerous, gang-infested neighborhoods, and do not enjoy the benefit of having youth organizations available to guide them. Growing up in this negative, life-threatening environment can cause them to posses an adverse outlook on life and fall prey to the dangers of the street. These youth need a positive direction in which they can expend their youthful energy. They can release that positive energy by competing in coed sports programs, such as organized amateur boxing.

The Chicago Youth Boxing Club "CYBC" encourages participation in a competitive boxing atmosphere. This type of environment enables our inner city youth to understand the value of good sportsmanship, team unity, and self-respect, instead of having them accept the negative alternatives of joining gangs, doing drugs, and ending up in prison.

The CYBC was established on December 4, 2001. CYBC is a not-for-profit organization that is based in Chicago's Humboldt Park community. This organization is aimed at emphasizing the importance of academics and physical fitness to our inner-city youth. CYBC is sincerely interested in associating with other not-for-profit agencies, private organizations, the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the Federal Government.

CYBC will provide funding through fund-raisers and monetary donations for the purchase of gym equipment, protective gear, and uniforms. CYBC would also like to provide hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation to and from amateur boxing tournaments that are held outside the Chicago metropolitan area. The CYBC participates in many championship boxing tournaments, which include Jr. Olympics, PAL, Silver, and Golden Gloves tournaments. Several of the CYBC youth members have families that are stable, but do not have the additional income to support their children to compete outside of the Chicago area.

Once our young competitors reach the U.S. amateur championship boxing tournament level, some amateur boxing organizations may provide college scholarships to them. These scholarships are available mainly to young men and women who have displayed notable academic achievements, as well as intense boxing talent. Rudy Cisneros and Frankie TaFoya are prime examples of the type of accomplishments that organized amateur boxing programs can generate. They were involved in the Chicago Park District boxing program and are now currently enrolled in a college boxing scholarship program at Northern Michigan University under the guidance of NMU Sports Program Director, Edward Yun.

"Not only can the Chicago Youth Boxing Club provide a recreational haven for our youth by promoting amateur team boxing, it can also assist those kids who maintain excellent academic grades, and posses immense boxing skills, by supporting them to obtain an education. CYBC would like to assist in improving the quality of life for our youth, through college boxing scholarships. With your donations we can help provide young men and women with a valuable college education, and in the process, hopefully mold a few U.S.A. Boxing Team Olympians with the dream of bringing home a gold medal." Robert Ramos, CYBC Board Chairman

Fernando Hernandez Jr. is an 8th grader who resides on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Fernando is one of the CYBC Champions. "I enjoy competing in amateur boxing events because I get to travel and visit many different places. I've made new friends all over the U.S. I love computers and in the future I plan on gaining a career in that field as well as becoming a world champion boxer, God willing."

Undisputed and currently the best pound for pound boxer. Professional Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, Roy Jones Jr., and CYBC Champion Fernando Hernandez Jr.

Fernie Hernandez Jr. and Roy Jones