Thu, Nov 26 2009
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Friend’s backyard gym produces champions His brother got him started boxing by simply throwing gloves on in the backyard as teenage boys in Oregon.
Boxing throughout high school, Friend made his professional debut right after graduation — when he also became the high school coach and had a successful career before he left for the Korean War in 1951. Five years later, he left the service for a second stint. He competed off and on until 1969. Two years after that, Friend walked into the ring with Kelly with the world championship on the line. Even through his career as a professional boxer, Friend had a passion for coaching. Ricky Alexander was just a 16-year-old, 103-pound kid out of Ripley the first time he met Friend. He grew up poor and never imagined he would play sports because it cost too much. One day he followed a high school buddy into Friend’s gym. Alexander was skeptical. A puny kid from the country was walking into a boxing facility for the first time. He stayed, and is now in his fifth year as a professional boxer. “It’s all a dream,” Alexander said. Friend has been there every step of the way, guiding Alexander to regional Golden Gloves Championships in five weight classes and an invitation to fight at Madison Square Garden. “He’s turned into probably, overall, the best I’ve had of all time,” Friend said. “As far as speed and power and everything.” Now weighing 126 pounds, Alexander still trains with Friend in the backyard gym. Above the handmade ring is a board that Alexander holds dear to his heart. The Stillwater Boxing Club Honor Roll displays 13 names of an elite class of Golden Glove champions Friend has trained. Alexander’s name is on the list. The day he saw his name etched in red marker, Alexander couldn’t believe it. “All those fighters up there are some of his greatest fighters,” Alexander said. “All the fighters that have been through here have been his close friends, even me. He’s like my dad.” That seems to be another growing trend among the boxers who learn the craft from a man who still puts on the pads and takes punches. “You come in every day and it’s the same people,” Alexander said. “It makes it like a family.” 
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