‘How we can rebuild it’: A Texas boxing champion wants to put Fort Worth back on the map

Blood, sweat, and tears. Those were all things that Kendrick Releford saw while growing up in Fort Worth.

Some of the city’s best boxers fought right in front of him.

And against his dad.

Fort Worth was a hotbed for boxing in the 1980s. The area, Releford told the Star-Telegram, produced five world champions, including Donald Curry, Steve Cruz, Troy Dorsey, Gene Hatcher, and Bruce Curry.

He recalled that Donald Curry and his father, Kenneth Releford, were sparring partners.

“It was like a kid in a candy store being around the top fighters all the time,” he said.

The gym was Releford’s babysitter as he watched his dad train, and then his dad eventually began training him. At eight years old, he had his first match, which led to a 40-fight pro boxing caree r.

“I was a little bitty something in the 80s, but growing up in the gym and being with my dad is what had the biggest impact on me,” Releford said. “I know without boxing, I would have been running around in the streets, so that’s what kept me occupied.”

Renewing interest in Fort Worth boxing scene

However, interest in boxing as entertainment began to decline in the late 1990s and early 2000s as fights shifted to exclusive pay-per-view showings rather than accessible television networks. Other sports like mixed martial arts and UFC exploded in popularity.

Veteran boxing coach Sheldon Parker explained that fans had more entertainment options as other sports became popular. Back then, local boxing matches were held at Will Rodgers and Billy Bob’s in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

“When Kendrick was fighting, Texas only had one pro team, the Dallas Cowboys, so it was football and boxing, Parker said. “You used to be able to look up at the stands in high school to see banners of boxing champions, and that would help sell out the Golden Gloves (tournament).”

Despite the decline in local support over the years, Releford’s heart never lost love for boxing.

In fact, the love grew more intense after he retired from the pros in 2012 and was inducted into the Texas Boxing Hall of Fame.

“I grew up when the boxing scene was booming, so I knew what it was like, and I just want to rejuvenate and see how we can rebuild it,” Releford said.

Releford’s dream ‘starts with youth’

The first step was launching Dream Performance, a boxing and fitness gym at 6707 Meadowbrook Drive on the east side of Fort Worth.

Since 2018, Releford, Parker, and other veteran fighters have used the gym to train the next generation of local boxers.

“I believe we can truly make a difference in our communities through boxing and fitness, and that starts with the youth,” Releford said.

Thirteen-year-old Azarion Jones is an example of a life in which Releford has already made a difference through Dream Performance. Jones joined the gym after being sent to an alternative school due to a fight.

“My mom thought since I got into so many fights then something good should come of it. It’s definitely helped me work on myself since I joined,” he said.

Jones and other youth say boxing with Releford helps them turn their anger into something positive. That was hard for Jones in the beginning due to violence on the city’s east side.

“I used to always get into trouble, but now I’m not hanging around the same people because boxing teaches you discipline. If you wanna do it competitively, you have to register your hands as a weapon so that helps you refrain from wanting to fight.”

Releford uses the same techniques his dad taught him to teach his students. He puts their skills to the test by hosting local amateur fight nights.

“We have a lot of kids, and I believe we can get them out of the streets by giving them space to get out their aggression, so I try to host the fights all over the city. A couple of them have already become national golden glove champs, so the next goal is to get boxing into high schools,” Releford said.

By mentoring youth through sports and fitness, Releford believes Fort Worth will regain its love for boxing.

“I’ve been able to travel the world boxing, and I just want to be able to give the next generation that opportunity, too.

Through his non-profit, The Releford Dream Foundation, he continues to manage local talent. The next amateur fight is scheduled for Oct. 12. More information and details about the event can be found at Fwdreamperformance.com .