Jason DeCrow Photojournalist
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Transforming Harvey
Fighting the Streets
January - April 2002, Boston
Surrounded by bare brick walls, rickety wooden floors and two tattered boxing rings, Kate Reulbach, 21, helps Israel Rolon, 13, with his jab.
Almost all the kids that come into the NDYC have little or no boxing experience. Here, boxing coach David Crowell shows Trent Whitley, 14, the right way to wrap his hands before drilling.
Wrapping the hands is a delicate operation for fighters. Too loose and the lack of support can mean broken bones, too tight and the wraps will cut off circulation to the hands. Kate works to get her wraps just right.
Amid the dust and rust of the NDYC, younger fighters learn from older ones--especially as David's appearances become less and less frequent. Here, Marquise Jones, 11, watches Kate's speedbag technique.
Louis Muniz, 14, drills in a filthy, broken mirror propped up against the wall. Louis had been kicked out of school in October 2001 when he came to the NDYC, but has gained enough discipline through his training that he has since been readmitted.
For kids like Marquise and Trent, fighting at the NDYC means not having to fight on the streetcorners of the Dudley Triangle. Under the gym's flickering flourescent lights, the two work their left hooks.
The intensity that made him successful as a pro fighter is what allows David to command the respect of his fighers at the NDYC. As Louis looks on, David drills Pierre Havilland, one of the NDYC's older fighters, on his right cross.
After a round on the heavy bag, Pierre bows his head in exhaustion. With David gone, it falls on the shoulders of older fighters like Pierre and Kate to lead the younger fighters.