Honoring Joe Hand Gym and their Philadelphia born boxers Chazz Witherspoon and Teon Kennedy who both won their respective weight classes at this year's National Golden Gloves Championships.

WHEREAS, Joe Hand Boxing Gym works with the community to provide an alternative form of recreation and also offers after school, weekend and summer programs designed to work with youths as a prevention to at risk behaviors and also provides indoor games and activities; and

WHEREAS, Joe Hand Boxing Gym is located on the boundaries of Northern Liberties, Kensington, Fishtown area of Philadelphia and prides itself on allowing any race, sex, religious or political affiliation to participate in there programs; and

WHEREAS, The Golden Gloves program has thirty-one franchises from New England to Hawaii and represents every section of the country including the annual Pennsylvania Eastern Regional and State Championship Golden Gloves Tournament held at Joe Hand Boxing Gym; and

WHEREAS, Many of these Golden Gloves Champions go on to be future champions such as Joe Louis (1934), Muhammad Ali (1960), Sugar Ray Leonard (1974), Johnny Tapia (1984) and Oscar De La Hoya (1989); and

WHEREAS, Chazz Witherspoon and Teon Kennedy of the Joe Hand Boxing Gym each won their respective weight classes and earned the title of National Golden Gloves Champion held in Kansas City on May 9, 2004; and

WHEREAS, None of Chazz Witherspoon’s five tournament bouts went the distance including his victory in the 201-pound title fight when the referee stopped the bout in the second round; and

WHEREAS, Teon Kennedy won four straight bouts including a four-round decision in the title fight to win the 112-pound title; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby Recognize and Honor Joe Hand Boxing Gym for its continued success and dedication to provide alternative forms of recreation to our children and Chazz Witherspoon and Teon Kennedy who have continued the long history of Philadelphia fighters whose grit and determination have made them Golden Glove Champions but more importantly Philadelphia Champions.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Joe Hand Boxing Gym, Chazz Witherspoon and Teon Kennedy further evidencing the sincere respect, pride and admiration of this legislative body.

End