How many professional boxing promoters would rent an RV, load it up with young amateur fighters, and set out on a three hour drive to attend an amateur boxing show? That is exactly what Brian Young did on Saturday, June 23, when he showed up for the annual Pearl Day festivities in Pearl, Mississippi.

Each year Richard Archer and Stan Nichols (Pearl Boxing Club) set up a boxing ring and teams from the surrounding four states (Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana) show up for a day of fights.

Usually, the same clubs participate and the same people make the trip. They gather together, shake hands and congregate in little circles to converse. Boxing stories old and new fill the air.

The kids seem to stay the same. Just a little older and a bit taller. It's an annual boxing event that is the same old song and dance. So when I saw an RV pull into the parking lot that I didn't recognize, it got my attention.

The doors opened up and what seemed like an endless stream of kids wearing white Prize Fight Boxing Team shirts exited the RV. The driver looked familiar to me. The bald head, sunglasses and ball cap wasn't enough to fool me. It was the head of Prize Fight Promoters, Brian Young.

I thought to myself, "How many professional boxing promoters would take their Saturday, and do this?" I tried to picture Bob Arum doing it, and that didn't work. I tried to picture Don King doing it, and that didn't work either.

Once the kids registered, I figured that's where Young would hand the coaching reigns off to someone else. I was wrong again. Each time a Prize Fight kid would fight, Spit bucket, spray bottle, water bottle and all, Brian Young worked their corner.

To me, that is what it's all about. It was a breath of fresh air to see a professional boxing promoter, a guy that has been involved with so many high profile fights-- like Mike Tyson vs Lennox Lewis, Jermain Taylor vs Winky Wright and Antonio Tarver vs Roy Jones Jr-- show up at an amateur boxing show and get his hands dirty. Brian Young told me many things on this day but one thing stuck with me, he said, "I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon."

Young's leadership and dedication to the sport of boxing spans from the national to a community level. Through his actions Young helps us to remember where it all starts and shows us how to give back. American boxing could be revived to its vigor of yesteryear if people would give back as Young has. Would it fix everything? No. But it sure as Hell couldn't hurt.

-- Brad Cooney--

Author - Let's Talk Boxing

Writer - www.boxingtalk.com

Writer - Boxing Digest Magazine

Writer - Primer Round Magazine