Charter Oak Boxing Academy
"A boxing club where life is the main event"
Ring Magazine - 1995
"A boxing club where life is the main event"
Ring Magazine - 1995
"A boxing club where life is the main event"
Ring Magazine - 1995
Five nights a week and most weekends, in what looks like an old garage sitting on the edge of the Parkville section of Hartford, Connecticut, dozens of boys and girls - men and women - check into the Charter Oak Boxing Academy to practice, study and spar.
In a room made humid by perspiration, there are the sounds of jump ropes snapping on the floor, punches landing on heavy bags, the snorting of shadow boxers and the squeak of shoes shuffling across two rings, as fighting friends practice the art of hitting without being hit. For all the sound the place is quiet, because boxing takes concentration and as much as success in the ring builds confidence, absorbing a punch infuses humility which removes the impulse to brag over momentary conquest.
To serve as a trusted community institution that partners with families and other organizations to nurture, support and guide at-risk youth in becoming responsible, productive citizens committed to giving back to society
To keep at-risk boys and girls out of gangs, away from drugs, in school, alive, and on the path to post-secondary education through a holistic approach that centers on amateur boxing and is supported by tutoring, mentoring, prevention education and life skills training.
Donate to us via GoFundMe or for large donations contact Coach Callas at johnnycallas@cobaboxing.net
Recently COBA sat down with the Connecticut Department of Children & Families for their Doors to Hope and Healing segment. Listen to Johnny "Coach" Callas go in depth on how COBA is making a difference, as well as a live boxing demonstration.
The Academy Is dedicated to creating champions in the ring, but first and foremost, “Champions of Life!” COBA is a comprehensive youth development program, that Ring Magazine, "The Bible of Boxing" called "A Boxing Club where Life is the Main Event" and is committed to working with males and females ages 8-21, Monday – Friday, 6-8 p.m.
Johnny Callas, "Coach," is a twenty six year World Championship Professional Boxing Referee, licensed in five jurisdictions and often seen on ESPN, HBO & SHOWTIME. He has refereed everyone from Female Hall of Famer Lucia Ryker to World Champions: Miguel Cotto, Andre Ward, Chad Dawson, Victor Ortiz, Mickey Ward to Errol Spence & Jermal Charlo.
Would you like to be involved with COBA? It is as simple as filling out our form and emailing it to johhnycallas@cobaboxing.net. We would love for you to become our next Champions of Life! To see more visit their Facebook page.
Working in the community there has been many times where we have been featured in the news. From our coach getting inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame, Trinity College forming a connection with our organization, middleweight boxer Sergio Martinez dedicates championship fight to Middletown teen and more!
Watch how Charter Oak Boxing is helping the community and mentoring our boxers to become champions of life. Our COBA Live YouTube channel is growing, so please subscribe to stay up to date on all things COBA!