Youth Boxing Program Fights Off Negativity, Provides Positive Role Models

A sold-out boxing event in Darwin, Australia, showed how one program is changing lives for young people in the Northern Territory. The event was organized by Gloves of Hope, a free program that teaches boxing skills to young men and women. It was held at Marrara Stadium on Saturday and brought together clubs from Darwin, Alice Springs, and even Kununurra in Western Australia. Money raised from ticket sales will go back to Gloves of Hope to help the program keep running.

Gloves of Hope is run by a local group called Hoops 4 Health, which is led by Aboriginal community members. The group runs several sports programs for young people who are struggling, including some who are in youth detention centres in the Northern Territory. The goal of Gloves of Hope is to give young people a chance to learn boxing from professional coaches while also building life skills. Participants learn discipline, resilience, and how to support one another in their community.

Social impact director Matthew Bonson says the program does more than just teach boxing. "We try to improve their mental health, but also guide them with integrity about how they live their lives," he said. The program uses exercise that is patterned and rhythmic — meaning it follows a beat or routine — to help young people who have been through tough experiences manage their emotions. Research supports this type of therapy as a way to help trauma-affected youth feel calmer and more in control.

The Northern Territory has some of the highest rates of youth incarceration in all of Australia. First Nations boys between the ages of 10 and 14 are especially affected. Bonson says that having the right role models is one of the most important parts of what makes Gloves of Hope work. "Particularly with young men, if you put the right older men in front of them — who they know are trying to help them — they do want to listen," he said.

One of the fighters at Saturday's event was Declan Unwin-Walker, who trained with Gloves of Hope for more than a year. He said he felt "keen, excited, nervous — but ready to go" before his match. He described how the group pushes each other every day and that showing up consistently is a big part of what the program is about. "We all push each other and show up every day," he said, "and it's definitely about pushing each other and just — keep showing up."

Jerrel O'Riley came all the way from Kununurra, Western Australia, to compete with the Kununurra Warriors Boxing Club. He said he was excited and a little surprised to hear that about 1,000 people would be watching. Richard Garling, a coach with more than 40 years of experience, was also at the event representing the Humpty Doo Boxing Club. He said programs that help kids from rural areas compete are very important for finding new talent. "There's a lot of potential in the Territory," he said.

The event also featured a half-time performance by NT music star Yung Milla, who recently won on the reality TV singing show The Voice Australia. The crowd at Marrara Stadium enjoyed both the boxing and the entertainment throughout the night. Organizers are hopeful that the event will come back again next year, bringing even more support to the Gloves of Hope program. All the money raised from ticket sales was donated directly to keep the program going for young people across the Northern Territory.