He’s best known for being the lead trainer for star boxer Gervonta “Tank” Davis, and on Saturday night, September 19th, Calvin Ford and the Upton Boxing Center will make history.
This highly anticipated fight night is something Baltimore has been waiting for. The Skyy Myles Promotions event is entitled ‘The Supper,’ and the action is set to take place at the Hyatt Regency in Baltimore, Maryland, streaming live on BLK Prime.
A product of Baltimore’s Lexington Terrace housing projects, young Calvin Ford had a pivotal moment in his life when he encountered street legend, Petey Dixon. One day Dixon gave Ford a shopping bag to hold for him.
When Dixon came back to get the bag, he asked Ford if he looked in the bag, and Ford told him he didn’t. Dixon opened the money bag and gave Ford a wad of cash. This was one of the experiences that lured Calvin into the street life.
Unfortunately for Calvin, the street life led to him serving time in prison. While in prison, Ford connected with Reggie Gross, a former pro boxer who fought a very young Mike Tyson.
Reggie Gross taught Ford the basics of boxing. Calvin met an older guy from the Dominican Republic who showed Ford many of the techniques he teaches today.
After serving his time, Ford started his coaching journey at Herring Run Recreation Center. A few years later, the Director of Parks & Recs approached Coach Ford and offered him a vacant building that used to be a homeless shelter.
Coach Ford and his crew fixed the place up, bought basic equipment, and launched the Upton Boxing Center. Kenny Ellis joined Coach Ford at Upton, and for decades they have been known as the dynamic duo.
Ford and Ellis are boxing coaches and community leaders. They’re teaching kids the art of boxing, but in doing so, they’re also keeping those same kids off the streets.
Ford and Ellis groomed a generational talent named Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Now the two coaches are grooming future world champions and making history during the process.
On September 19th, history will be made as the Upton Boxing Center becomes the first boxing gym to have all its boxers fight on the same card. All fourteen boxers, male and female, will be in action.
Chrisean “Holy Hands” Malone will make her debut, and after an injury layoff, Coach Kenny Ellis’s daughter, Mia Ellis, will return to the squared circle.
A title will be at stake as the talented Lorenzo “Truck ” Simpson fights for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental belt. With an 85 percent knockout rate, the hard-hitting Damari Philson will look to add to his KO total.
Monyae Gregory, Teaira Skinner, Noah Ashe, Titus Ashe, Sa’Mari “Time Machine” Everette, Daron Williams, Rafi Yari, Mathan Martinez, Taniyah Price, and Mike “6 Million Dollar Man” Austin will all be in action showcasing their skills.
Saturday night, September 19th, will be an historic night for the Upton Boxing Center. The event is called The Supper, and all the boxers from Upton are hungry and ready to eat.
