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The La Vergne Boxing Club run by Coach Mike Rodgers who is the President of the Middle Tennessee Golden Gloves and previously associated with Club KO has a new location for his A-Team boxers. The new gym is located on 5499 Murfreesboro Rd in Suite I. The vision is simple; all children need structure, discipline, education, and guidance, which is what we offer in a Christian setting through our Amateur Boxing program that is free to all children.

Mike Rodgers was a 5 time state Golden Gloves boxing champion with almost 200 amateur and 27 pro boxing matches under his belt. Rodgers topped off his pro career by winning the World WBF Cruiserweight championship and retiring from pro boxing with a record of 25 wins and only 2 losses. With over 30 years involvement in the sport of boxing Rodgers now volunteers every day as a coach for an amateur boxing team in La Vergne, Tennessee and makes a living working in Corporate America.

The La Vergne Boxing Club is home to the A-Team concept that was designed by Coach Mike Rodgers to help children understand where they were skill wise in the boxing program and also help them understand what they needed to accomplish to rise to the next level. All of the boxers make up the La Vergne Boxing Club that is split up into 3 different teams by skill levels that are labeled A, B, and C.

The C-Team boxers are brand new to the program and are taught the basic punches, footwork, and conditioning, but they are not allowed to strike a heavy bag, speed bag, double-end bag or spar. When they have displayed that they are comfortable with these new skills and become registered with USA boxing they also become eligible to move up to the B-Team.

The B-Team boxers earn a locker in the gym and are allowed to strike a heavy bag, speed bag, double-end bag and spar with other B-Team and A-Team members. At this level the conditioning training is intensified, but they are still not allowed to compete. When a coach determines that the boxer has continually displayed advancing skills in the ring through sparring and has remained compliant with their studies and conditioning then they become eligible to move up to the A-Team.

The A-Team boxers have their boxing picture framed and hung on the wall of the gym for everyone to see. They are the only boxers that are eligible to represent the La Vergne Boxing Club at boxing competitions held every weekend. Competing is a privilege that has to be earned by the boxer. The A-Team is made up of boxers that have gone through each squad while continually displaying advancing boxing skills, leadership at school or in the community, teamwork, good manners, good grades, sportsmanship, perseverance, and are physically ready to compete in the sport of amateur boxing. Poor efforts in any of these categories can send a boxer on the A-Team back to the B-Team where they will have to re-earn their privileges. This gives the coaches the ability to focus on specific strengths and weaknesses and gives the children a set goal to accomplish. Every boxing coach in the world puts their boxers in separate classes in their head, but I am the only one that puts it on paper so that the boxers can know where they are in the program too.

Even though the boxing is free there are some requirements that every child must adhere to in order to have the opportunity to participate in the program. All boxers must make a C or above on all of their grades at school and provide a copy of their report card to keep on file. All boxers are required to have manners. All boxers will keep their hair trim, can’t wear ear rings, can’t wear baggy pants, and must wear a white button up dress shirt, dress pants and a black tie that will be provided for them to attend all boxing matches when representing the team. All boxers are given the opportunity to attend a 20-minute bible study class every Thursday night after practice.

No person has ever reached excellence in anything without putting in the hard work first. The A-Team concept is more than just boxing; it is about structure and discipline in every aspect of their life. To be on the A-Team they will make good grades, they will have good manners, they will say their prayers, they will try their hardest, and they must never quit. The A-Team concept is a blueprint for a child to follow so that they can achieve success in their life.

La Vergne Boxing Club
5499 Murfreesboro Rd. Ste. I
La Vergne, Tn. 37086
615-478-7067