Wartime Fitness hosts Gloves Up, Guns Down event

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – Wartime Fitness is working to knock out gun violence in Charlottesville.

The boxing gym held a Gloves Up, Guns Down event at Charlottesville High School. This was the first ever USA Certified Boxing event held in Charlottesville.

It was about more than just throwing punches, fighter and those in the stands left with a valuable lesson.

“Boxing helped me tremendously mentally, therapeutic, physically got me in shape, helped me build my confidence, care for myself, care for my body,” Wartime Fitness CEO and President George Rivera said. “That’s why we’re so big on pushing boxing out there,”

Rivera says he hopes that the sport can help others in the same way it has helped him.

The event also was about bringing awareness to gun violence problems encouraging people to find other ways to express themselves.

“Gun violence has been growing around our area, so we trying to let them know, give them an outlet where it’s okay to let your anger out, but you know, the correct way and also teach discipline while doing it,” said Rivera.

Its principles like these that Rivera says he teaches daily at Wartime Fitness.

“That’s what we show here, family love and support. So if that’s what you want in a boxing community, we got it all,” said amateur boxer, Kevon Clarkson.

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