Sports
Navajos see boxing club as way out for youth


A small boxing club on the Navajo Nation is providing a healthy alternative to drugs and gang violence.

The Damon-Bahe Boxing Club in Chinle, Arizona, was founded by Cal Bahe, who turned to boxing as a youth to get out of trouble. His grandfather, Jim Damon, was a boxing champion.

The tradition is being carried on by Cal's 16-year-old son Lowell, who hopes to make it to the Olympics in 2008. Lowell has won the All-Indian Nationals six times and National Silver Gloves twice. He placed third in the World Internationals.

The boxing club has produced 24 champions and is the subject of an independent film by former child star and NYPD Blue actor Rick Schroeder. "Black Cloud" was inspired by Lowell and tells the story of a young Native American boxer.

Get the Story:
Boxing gym connects with Navajos (The Arizona Republic 4/1)
Boxing club inspires movie (The Arizona Republic 4/1)