No "X" Cuse is not only becoming one of the top boxing clubs in the state of Maryland but in the United States. Under the tutelage of Bernard and Lamont Roach, No "X" Cuse has built a stable of 15-20 young fighters from the surrounding communities who have the potential to one day become household names in the boxing community. No "X" Cuse believes that by getting these kids off the street and teaching them self discipline and skills that will take them well beyond the boxing rings, No "X" Cuse has already created champions. For those kids who already feel that they have no opportunity to succeed, boxing opens a whole new world for these youth. USA Amateur Boxing tends to give a child an identity and No "X" Cuse is using its knowledge of boxing to help the children of the community to achieve what they may have thought previously impossible.
The importance of No "X" Cuse and other athletic organizations is to keep kids interested in something substantial, something to work for and a hobby to pursue. It helps keep them away from drugs, gangs and violence. It gives them another group activity to look forward to with friends afterschool. It builds sportsmanship, HONOR and personal strength.
This philosophy and the principles of the No "X" Cuse Boxing Club are burned in the heads of the kids by the outstanding No "X" Cuse training team. Using his military background as a foundation, Bernard Roach started training youths in 1989, a year after he lost the Olympic trials. A D.C. firefighter for 20 years, Coach Bernard grew up in the Southeast neighborhood where drive by shootings are not uncommon, he has seen too many children hurt or worse to not want to help.
Coach Bernard Roach, who has almost three decades of boxing experience, boxed in the military back in the 1980s and for the last 20 plus years he has trained a number of champions, including DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley, a former junior welterweight world champion. An admitted disciplinarian, Coach Bernard accepts nothing less than full commitment from his fighters.
Coach Lamont Roach Sr. has been training boxers for the past 8 years and is quickly becoming an outstanding boxing coach. When not training boxers, Coach Lamont Roach is the Chief Engineer for Republic Properties Corporation in SW, Washington DC. Has been an engineer for over 18 years.
Coach Lamont has served the community for over 10 years, as a volunteer football coach for the Forestville Falcons Boy and Girls Club. Coach Roach is a savvy coach who is known as a quick learner and his commitment to the kids.
The No "X" Cuse gym, which serves community youth with free boxing training via coaches Bernard and Lamont and two other volunteer coaches, is struggling more than most. For several years, they have served a growing need for youth - with no financial help from the community or the state. Most of the kids involved in the boxing program never miss practice and train hard to compete in local and national competitions. They see boxing as a way out of the violence and despair they witness daily. Most of the parents don’t have the money or time to take these kids to boxing events out of town. Must of the burden of making sure kids get to participate in these competition rests on Coach Bernard and Lamont.
