GUNS DOWN, GLOVES UP
THE WASH
The Wash, founded by Dee and Dino, hosts bi-weekly nights of hard fought bouts in Detroit, MI. As a member of the Guns Down, Gloves Up movement, the event brings together people from around the city to safely enjoy a good time partying while rooting for friends and family battling in the ring. As Detroit has an ongoing crisis with gun violence, fight organizers like The Wash and others aim to mitigate gun violence by having people settle beef in the boxing ring, not with weapons, ultimately allowing participants to return home safely to their families.
PICK YOUR POISON
Pick Your Poison (PYP) Boxing joined Detroit’s Guns Down, Gloves Up movement in 2020 by arranging fight nights for anyone who had beef to settle their disputes in the ring, as well as letting friends take to the streets to pummel each other for two minute rounds, followed by each fighter embracing the other to show respect and goodwill for their rival, promoting a positive outlet for pent up aggression and to bond within the community.
Pick Your Poison Street Boxing mades its return to the streets of Southwest Detroit in 2021, seeing community members come together and bond through good spirited combat in the ring.
D-MIKE
Coach D-Mike leads youth in strength and conditioning during his wrestling camp to engage children in the sport, teach them discipline, and give them a positive outlet to focus upon. This is by no means his only effort to improve himself or his community. D-Mike is also training for his pro boxing debut while also hosting fights as a part of Detroit’s Guns Down, Gloves Up movement.
The champ retained his backyard belt in a come from behind effort during an evening of fights jointly organized by D-Mike and Dwane Taylor’s Pick Your Poison Boxing in Southwest Detroit (6 June 2021).
ONLY HANDZ
Only Handz Boxing promotes and hosts safe and controlled boxing sparring exhibitions as part of Detroit’s Guns Down, Gloves Up movement. All proceeds of their events are going towards building and sustaining the Only Handz Boxing Gym in Detroit, MI where athletes of all ages, sizes and skill levels can train to achieve their boxing and physical fitness goals.
BATTLE CREEK 269
Partly inspired by Detroit’s Guns Down, Gloves Up movement, Battle Creek, MI joined the cause on September 18, 2021 by hosting their first BC 269 sparring & workout event alongside a community barbecue.
TEAM KO 313 UNDERGROUND BOXING
Team KO 313’s Underground Boxing Fight Night is the latest addition to the Guns Down, Gloves Up movement within the city of Detroit. Starting in the winter of 2022, organizers began hosting bi-weekly fights for Detroiters who have beef with one another or simply those who just want to fight in the ring and take home a bit of cash.
