Champions of Life »
“A Boxing Program Where Life Is The Main Event”
Ring Magazine
“The Bible of Boxing” 1995
Is dedicated to creating champions in the ring, but first and foremost, “Champions of Life!” This world class amateur boxing program fortified by a comprehensive youth development curriculum and staff is committed to working with males and females ages 8-18 every Monday – Wednesday – Friday, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday’s 11-1pm. Competitions, travel and sparring are year round, and not a mandate to be a valued member of the program. “Champion’s of Life Boxing” will strive to impart in its members:
- Holistic Personal Development: personal investment, positive self-esteem, strong character, the value of education & pro-social behavior
- Life Skills Education in: drug, alcohol & gang prevention, healthy decision making, leadership, being goal orientated & community minded and developing educational talents State of the Art Foundation in: physical fitness, nutrition & wellness, aerobic and anaerobic fitness and Olympic boxing skills
All members will benefit from our P.R.I.D.E positive reinforcement points program, receive apparel, equipment and staff will be available to partner with parents on all child & adolescent development issues!
To enroll your son or daughter call:
Lion’s Den GM Chris Lombardi @ 860-613-2394,
or
“Coach” Johnny Callas, Charter Oak Boxing Academy Executive Director and “Champion’s of Life Boxing” Head Coach
(860-918-2844, e-mail JohnnyCoachCallasChampionsofLife@comcast.net )
(Scholarships available to those who qualify)
Johnny “Coach” Callas Champions of Life Boxing Director
Johnny Callas, “The Coach,” is a fifteen year World Championship Professional Boxing Referee, licensed in five jurisdictions and often seen on ESPN, HBO & SHOWTIME. He has Reffed everyone from the Lions Den Craig Salamone Director of Boxing and Trainer John “Iceman” Scully to “Bad” Chad Dawson, “Irish” Micky Ward & Miguel Cotto.
Coach Callas is the Executive Director and Head Coach of the Charter Oak Amateur Boxing Academy & Youth Development Program Inc., which became a USA Boxing Inc. National “Modal” Program that focused on creating “Champions of Life” as well as Champions in the Ring. In a ten-year period the Academy seized seventy-four amateur titles and boasted six state Junior Olympic Championship Teams.
In 1995 The “Bible of Boxing,” Ring Magazine praised Callas & the Academy for being: “A Boxing Program Where Life is The Main Event!” Many of “The Coach’s” kids went on to colleges like Trinity and West Point. While achieving this Johnny also was the Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), “Blue Devil” Boxing Team, Division One, Head Boxing Coach. The “Blue Devils” landed itself a top ten national ranking, produced five All-Americans and competed internationally under his tutelage every year he was at the helm.
Callas himself was a National Collegiate Boxing Champion (NCBA) out of Central Connecticut State University, a three time All-American and represented the U.S.A. in international competition against the Russians, The Czech Republic and the Brunei Olympic Team. He was voted twice the best Pound for Pound Boxer in the Northeast and in 1985 during his reign as a NCBA Champion was considered pound for pound the best in the country.
Johnny “Coach” Callas is on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame and considered the protégé of his coach, the revered Hartford physical education/boxing legend & leader of men, Billy Taylor.
“Coach” Callas has his Masters Degree in Social Work and is a twenty-year veteran of Connecticut’s Department of Children & Families, specializing in Adolescent development, substance abuse, mental health and juvenile justice.
Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den, 1385 Newfield Street, Middletown, CT
Aiyana Callas with training partner David James after an event
“She so beautiful and such a ‘girl’ that it’s hard for anyone to imagine her boxing,” said her coach and father, Johnny Callas. “I’ve been training kids for twenty years, and know that boxing at this level is safer then soccer. That aside – she’s good. And that’s me talking as her coach, not father.
“Though I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t get a little nervous before her bouts. I am her father after all.”
At 2-0, Aiyana is always a crowd favorite.
“When she won at an annual outdoor show in the Bronx, people just flocked to her as she left the ring. One guy even gave her a brand new cell phone. She was an instant star,” said coach Callas.
Watching her train with the Champion’s of Life youth boxing team at the Lion’s Den Training Center in Middletown, it was easy to see that she has been well trained.
Her hands are always held high, her footwork is smooth, side to side, and the jab is always pumping, keeping the stronger boys at arm’s length.
“We occasionally get girls here, but I’m the only girl who competes, so I mainly spar with the boys,” Aiyana said. “I’m used to it though. It’s good practice.”
And how do the boys deal with the “pretty” girl who can box?
“She’s not like a girl when she’s in there boxing,” said 9 year old David James. “At first you want to go easy on her, but once you see how good she is you can’t. I don’t have a problem hitting her now,” he said with a big smile.
The truth of the matter is their training is safe, effective and fun.
“They learn the difficult art of life skills,” said coach Callas. “That’s what we teach here. The glory of competing and winning is just an extra perk. Getting up there and boxing in front of 200 people is the equivalent to participating in a team sport in front of 10,000 (people). I’m very proud of all these kids. They are all Champions.”
