About My Professional Boxing Training Classes

Bilal S. Ali

I came from a family of eight children; 5 girls and three boys. I have many cousins, uncles, and aunts who were more like brothers and sisters because my mother also raised them when my grandmother passed at a young age. Our house was the neighborhood haven for those in need and although we didn’t have much ourselves, we shared it with others.

Being raised by a single parent is difficult for everyone. My mother was very stern and discipline was key at home. My mother worked almost all the time, so it was left to the older siblings to take on more responsibility for maintaining the home and assisting with the other children. I was the oldest son and I had one sister older than me. The combination of this upbringing and what God had instilled in me is what I believe gave me my drive and desire to do for others.

My family grew up in some of the worst environments within the City of Newark in New Jersey. We were in the poorest of economic status; growing up around drugs, drug dealers, prostitution, gang violence, and racism, yet within my family environment, most of my childhood was happy.

Since I was into boxing, I, unfortunately, passed a lot of these individuals and saw criminal activity and situations no child should witness, yet I continued to walk to the gym every day to get my training. My mother worried constantly about my safety, but she had to depend on what she taught me and God’s mercy to protect me.

Although still a youth myself, I remember at the age of 12 I was talking to many youth my age, or younger, about staying positive, doing what was right, and not succumbing to our negative environment. My mother would often say – just because you live in the ghetto doesn’t mean you have to be of the ghetto. I didn’t understand then that she meant you didn’t have to have a negative outlook on life or demean yourself or your body; just work hard and do what you needed to make your life better.

Professional Boxing Training

I continued to teach and preach on the streets for years. Then, I started to hear of a greater negative detriment to the future of our youth; a never-ending maze of youth facilities and institutions that teach and practice recidivism. I continued to aggressively teach/preach at bus stops, public transportation hubs, airports, parks, etc. I felt as if the world were my auditorium.

I started boxing in 1978 because Muhammad Ali made it look so easy. Little did I know it only looked so easy to me because he was so great at it! I first started training around people like William Bo James, Teddy White, and Bo Thomas. While still an amateur, I sparred with fighters like Jr. Edmond, Hardrock Green Tiger, Walker Earl Hargrove, Victor Gordon, and Kent Clark. I was a finalist in the 1982 New Jersey Gold Gloves. While training for the fight, I caught pneumonia and couldn’t compete in the tournament. I had 33 amateur fights; all wins.

My coaches wanted me to stay around for the 1984 Olympics; I chose to become a professional trainer and youth advocate. 31 years and still going strong!!!