New challenges ahead for Richard Lewis

PICKERING -- Richard Lewis is always up for a challenge.

His latest endeavour is serving as head coach of World Class Boxing and Fitness in Pickering, a brand new facility that just opened its doors last month on Bayly Street, trying to break into the Durham Region market. Ambitious in its approach, the club will be holding its first boxing show on Sunday, featuring a team from Quebec.

It's these kind of challenges Lewis has met head on since his first trip to the gym as a youngster.

"The first person I went into the ring with was a provincial champion who beat the crap out of me for the first round of our fight," he remembers with a chuckle. "I turned it around and handed him his butt for the next two rounds. I realized this was the sport for me."

A coach with 40 years of experience, he last competed in the ring in 1978, but has dedicated his time and life to passing on his knowledge to young, and older, fighters.

"I got into coaching because I realized that it was the greatest way for me to reach children," he says.

Lewis, who has held a number of titles within the provincial boxing circles, is excited about his latest project. The new club has a professional-sized ring that can host shows, 14 heavybags, five speed bags and a weight area, just to name a few of the options available. So far, he has about six competitive fighters ranging in age from 13 to 62, but the club is designed to accommodate those who aren't interested in the physical contact of boxing, but want the fitness benefits.

"My focus here is the overall general fitness and well-being of everybody," says Lewis, who offers bodysculpt and boxfit classes. "Be you, but be the best you you can be," he adds.

The Durham District Alternative Secondary School, located nearby, will be using the facility for mentoring and fitness classes.

Sunday's show, sponsored by Warriors Fight Store, is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with 12 fights expected to be on the card.