"You Can't Open a Knife Or Fire a Gun with a Boxing Glove On!"

REV. RAY MARTIN, President BARBARA JEAN MARTIN, Vice President JOSEPH B. CARPER, JR., Chairman RUDOLPH SULLIVAN, Secretary CLIFTON COBB, Treasurer

P.O. BOX 88012 3212 DOWLLING STREET HOUSTON, TEXAS 77004 www.pababoxing.org PHONE: 713.520.9585 FAX: 713.520.9585

HOUSTON'S 1ST FIGHTING PREACHER  REVEREND RAY MARTIN “Welcome to the Progressive Amateur Boxing Association (PABA)!” This is how we greet all who become affiliated with our organization: youth who wonder through our doors with curiosity, those who enter because they need to learn the art of self defense, parents who bring their child or children to develop the discipline our program will build in their character, young adults aspiring to participate in amateur boxing, good folks who want to donate volunteer time, men and women assigned to our program to fulfill state adjuratory probation requirements, corporations that make contributions to help sustain our organization, individuals who make personal contributions and people who wonder inside just to get a peep! The PABA is located in the heart of Houston’s inner-city community of 3rd Ward. Established in 1969 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we’ve been here for 37 years! Our main purpose services 3rd Ward’s economically disadvantaged children through recreation, health education, juvenile crime and gang prevention and positive health practices. The history of our founder and program is rich! Established by Houston’s First Fighting Preacher a Taylor, Texas native who served in the United States Air force, played football for Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University and is credited with integrating boxing in our great state, the Reverend Ray Martin is also known for sending the former heavyweight world champion Muhammad Ali to the canvas, not once, not twice, but three times in the June 23, 1971 event that has become known as The Sparring Match of the Century. Ali, of course, claims he slipped! (HEAR AUDIO)  PABA'S 1ST AMATEUR BOXING CLASS The PABA is a community-oriented organization offering programs in the areas of amateur boxing, physical fitness, counseling, employment, and educational development. We are dedicated to the growth, advancement, professionalism and success of our youth. Through perception, communication, skill formation and behavior modification PABA relies on education and exercise in keeping youth away from crime, developing low self esteem and submitting to lives of poverty. Each year youths who participate in our boxing program box in amateur shows throughout Houston and the state of Texas. Monthly we hold our Champs of Tomorrow boxing exhibition to showcase to the community its talent. As we are a non profit, membership dues are $20.00 per month. Boxing scholarships are provided to youth who can not pay the monthly dues. Once a year, each boxer is required to purchase their boxing passbook, as required by the USA Boxing Association, affording them insurance and permission to box in tournaments.  PABA'S CHAMPIONS OF TOMORROW TOURNAMENT PABA provides the use of boxing gloves, headgear, shoes, and exercise equipment without cost to our members. In 2001 with Technology for All, a non profit organization whose goal is to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities, we expanded our programs to include a full scale Computer Training Center (CTC) and began offering free computer literacy training and internet access to community residents. In 2003, as Technology for All’s cycle for computer upgrades began, we began a process of donating computers to individuals who participated in the Program. In the spring of 2004 PABA developed a year round curriculum with the ambition of integrating our unique Chest & Shoulder boxing program into the Houston Independent School District (HISD). Our Chest & Shoulder boxing program, developed by Reverend Ray Martin, is a disciple approach to boxing that encourages all youth to participate in learning the art of self defense. It is geared toward building the confidence and self esteem of young people who may otherwise be easily persuaded by negative influences because they lack them. Parents support the program because it allows their children to acquire self defense skills while minimizing the occurrence for injury.  PABA'S IN SCHOOL BOXING ACADEMY In the spring 2005, the HISD voted in favor of our program. During that semester we built a full scale boxing ring in the historic Jack Yates high school. Its completion launched the first accredited boxing program in Houston. We are currently seeking funding for the expansion of our In-School Boxing Academy. Our vision is to develop academies in other high schools and promote a yearly tournament between them. Any additional information, including program specs and organization budget, will be forwarded upon request. Welcome you to the PABA!

“You May Not Get Everything You Fight For; But You Must Certainly Fight For Everything You Get!"