PINE BLUFF, Ark. — A Pine Bluff boxing program is looking to attract young girls to the sport in an effort to get kids off the streets.
At Gloves Not Guns, the goal is to keep kids in Pine Bluff away from violence.
"We need a whole lot more programs like this one because we don't have enough of them," Charday Early said. "Pick up the gloves and put down the gun. That's a great concept."
The boxing club is filled with lots of boys. Charday Early wants to change that.
"That's why I'm here," she said.
Early was Arkansas' very first female boxer back in the 70s at Pine Bluff High School.
"At that time I was very athletic, and I just wanted to do something different," she said.
The sport taught her discipline and strength. That's why she wants more girls to get involved.
"Keeping them out of trouble. Something positive. They can go a long way with it," Early said.
Gloves Not Guns owner Albert Brewer wants to get rid of the stigma that boxing is a man's sport.
"When I was growing up it was only men's, boys and so over the years it has changed," Brewer said.
He is recruiting Early to inspire both girls and boys. He hopes her passion will rub off on his students.
"Back when I was a teenager, that's when she started. She was a commodity and back then there was no other female for her to compete," Brewer said.
Gloves Not Guns currently has about four girls. Early wants to see that number triple.
"We going to keep it going. We are growing," she said.
Early said it is also inspiring to see the club have success with its students. Nine-year-old Darien White just came back from Independence, Missouri, where he won the Silver Glove Boxing competition. He is the first one in Pine Bluff to do so. The trip was made possible by the Corvette Club in Pine Bluff.