VIRGINIA BEACH — The Sweet Pea Boxing Club, named after Norfolk-born boxing legend Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whittaker, operates out of Powerhouse Gym off Holland Road in the Chimney Hill Shopping Center in Virginia Beach. Monday through Saturday, kids can be found there getting a serious workout.
15-year-old Caleb Green is one of those kids.
"I watched a lot of boxing before I started, so it kind of made me want to come over here and learn how to defend myself," Caleb Green said.
The program has given him more than a good workout.
"I gained fitness. I learned how to---- boxing has actually gave me confidence," Caleb Green said.
His mother, Kierra Green, says the program has had such an impact that it spread through her entire family.
"So after we got the first one involved, his younger brothers wanted to go ahead and get involved as well. So now I have 4 sons that are participating," Kierra Green said.
The club honors the legacy of Whittaker, who was born in Norfolk and went on to become an Olympic gold medalist and world champion across four distinct weight classes before his death following a car accident in 2019.
Donald Bryant, co-owner of Powerhouse Gym, says Whittaker was like family to him.
"We was like two peas in the pods and that was my everything became my father figured became my best friend," Bryant said.
Now, the gym is looking to upgrade its equipment through a fundraiser — and they have a heavy hitter helping them do it. Four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is set to be part of the effort.
Virginia Beach Councilman Cal "Cash" Jackson-Green explained how Holyfield got involved.
"I was thinking, how can I get, uh, really some momentum behind this? And it came to me to call on the 1984 Olympic team," Jackson-Green said.
Holyfield and Whittaker were teammates on that legendary 1984 U.S. Olympic boxing team. Jackson-Green said landing Holyfield's participation was a long shot — but it came together quickly.
"Long shot, but I reached out to Ronnie Shields, Coach Shields, who coached Sweepy Whittaker and Evander. He happened to be in uh Dallas with Evander Holyfield. He said, hang on, uh, councilman, I'll ask him right now. Comes back to the phone, he says he'll be there," Jackson-Green said.
Bryant said the fundraiser will help the gym take things to the next level.
"We'll get better equipment, actually efficient equipment, so we're not saying we got bad equipment at this time, but we, we just need to upgrade," Bryant said.
For Kierra Green, the stakes go beyond equipment.
"This is the type of program that will really inspire kids and keep them, you know, getting involved and keeping them out of trouble. So I think this is a good opportunity for us to support this organization and other children in the community," Kierra Green said.
This is a three day event celebrating the legacy of Whittaker. Holyfield initially was going to be part of the gala on Thursday, but can't make that Jackson-Green says, due to a filming project Holyfield is working on. So the councilman says Holyfield's appearance has been moved to an event on Friday.
For more infomation on the legacy weekend event, click here:
