KNOCKOUT COMBO HARRIS AND BEALS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT ISABELLA SPORTS YOUTH ORGANIZATION
In recent weeks three boxers from the Isabella Sports Youth Organization (ISYO) competed in the Golden Gloves Tournament in Grand Rapids. In the coming weeks and months more boxers from the ISYO will also take to the ring.
Started two years ago and formerly known as ‘Mt. Pleasant Boxing and Fitness’ the rebranded ‘Isabella Sports Youth Organization (ISYO)’ has been working with mid-michigan youth for a while now and that work is starting to pay off.
Located upstairs in downtown Mt. Pleasant’s Centennial Hall the ISYO is owned and operated by retired boxer Kolmarge Harris and retired MMA fighter Andrew Beals. Both Harris and Beal have spent years working with youths in need of a positive outlet and their work is bringing results as about 30-area youths work out at the ISYO.
Between them Harris and Beals both had tough upbringings, thus they know the importance of a place like the ISYO to kids in need because they used to be those kids.
“I know what these kids are going through because I went through it,” said Harris, who had 20 professional fights between 2002 and 2017. “My father (Ralph Harris) knew Muhammad Ali and George Foreman personally and I met them when
I was 5-years old. They told my dad to take me to the ‘Windy City Boxing Club’, so that’s where I started.”
Harris said he grew up in a super tough neighborhood in Chicago and was bullied regularly. What he found in boxing helped him face the bullies all while shaping his future direction.
“I decided to take my anger out on heavy bags instead of taking it out on someone else,” said Harris, who has been working with youth since 2009. “Once I retired I had a friend in Lansing who ran the (Lansing Spartan Youth Organization). Then I decided to come to Mt. Pleasant and do it. Andrew and I are trying to build something where we have boxing and different sports.”
Beals, who has a degree in health and fitness, added, “I wrestled and played football, but didn’t have an option like this growing up which is what I’m more geared towards.”
Boxers from the ISYO will be competing in the coming months and Harris and Beals would love to host a fight at some point in the future.
Additionally, the ISYO also recently gained a sponsor in Simply Engraving Inc. and would like to gain more.
For more on the ISYO visit it upstairs at Centennial Hall in downtown Mt. Pleasant between 4-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday or reach out the Harris on his Facebook page. Cost is $50 per month.
“My father (Ralph Harris) knew Muhammad Ali and George Foreman personally and I met them when I was 5-years old. They told my dad to take me to the ‘Windy City Boxing Club’, so that’s where I started.” Retired boxer Kolmarge Harris