Books Before Boxing: Club Caters to Teens

Years ago, a pastor named J.D. Partain met a University of Montana student named Matt McCarl who had a very unconventional idea: to create champions in the ring and in life by offering at-risk Missoula a competitive boxing program.

McCarl moved on after graduating, but the idea he planted did not, and Partain could not get the question out of his head: What would happen if a boxing club provided kids with a sport they loved - and then leveraged it to build character, help educate, and become a source of empowerment?

He knows a bit about marginalized youth. As a Court Appointed Special Advocate and a former foster-care worker, Partain has seen the effects poverty, bullying, crime, and social isolation can have on development. So he set to work finding a location, hiring a trainer, gathering equipment, and organizing a nonprofit.

After years of planning, and a few snags finding a location in a crowded commercial real estate market, the Missoula Boxing Club celebrated its official opening on Wednesday. The competitive boxing club, which is centrally located near Southgate Mall on South Avenue, specifically caters to teens.

Partain, whose own kids are 19, 17, and 13, knows to keep teens active instead of idle. According to a report from the 2019 Council for a Strong America, 37 percent of all juvenile crime is committed on those days occurring during the hours following the last school bell. But the club means more than having something for teenagers to do after school. It is modeled after Detroit Downtown Boxing Club, the club mandates that boxers must finish one hour of homework before they can train. The club offers education, mentorship, community, skills training, and accountability.

Organizers have prioritized making the club affordable. For only $15 per month for the first five months, students have access to technology, tutors, and even snacks as they supplement their education. Once they are finished, they can glove up and train with Donni Brickyard, the club’s tattooed, red-bearded boxing coach. After the fifth month, the program is free. Participants who cannot afford the $15/month tuition can receive scholarships.

The club depends on the generosity of others. If you’d like to volunteer to mentor youth, drive a 15-passenger van, tutor, coach, or help spread the word about the organization, fill out the Volunteer Form here. Volunteers must pass a background check. If you’d like to make a donation, click here.

The Missoula Boxing Club is located at 1633 South Ave. West behind Flying Squirrel. It is open after school Monday-Friday. Follow Missoula Boxing Club’s Facebook page here or Instagram here.