Third-generation coach Jake Dement keeps boxing Old School

Jake Dement, owner and head coach at the Dement Brothers Old School Boxing Club in Bossier City, is the third-generation heir to a tradition started by his grandfather, former Bossier City Mayor George Dement Jr., who coached three of his sons, Steve, Tim and Walter, to amateur boxing titles.

Tim, Jake’s father, represented the United States as a 17-year-old flyweight at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. A former Bossier City police detective, Tim also actively coached, and most of the Dement family stayed involved for many years.

“My grandmother, Sunshine Dement, was the biggest supporter to her children and their boxing club,” Jake said. “Many of the mothers of our boxers carry the role of ‘Momager,’ which is a combination of mom and manager.”

When he isn’t managing the family cattle farm near Frierson, Dement spends his time at his boxing club and gym on Barksdale Highway.

“We have between 10 and 15 active members, six of which are competitive amateur boxers. My youngest boxer is 7, and my oldest is 79,” Dement said. He is planning to take five of his young boxers to the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club’s amateur boxing event Aug. 6.

The event is by invitation only to assure proper training and registration. At least eight boxing clubs from Louisiana and out-of-state have signed on to compete with more clubs expected to sign up before the deadline. It will be held from 1-5 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, 2821 Greenwood Road with the boxers checking in between 9 and 11 a.m., followed by a checkup with a doctor before the rounds begin. Admission is free for people up to age 14 and $10 for adults.

The event was organized by the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club to encourage the sport of boxing, said coach Donny Jackson. Jackson, program director of Supportive Independent Living for the Volunteers of America, has been boxing more than 20 years. All the coaches at the boxing club are members of USA Boxing, the national group for Olympic-style amateur boxing.

Jackson was coached by Ray Paxton, a Shreveport boxer and former Olympic coach. Paxton, in turn, was coached by J.S. “Irish” McNeil, another local legend, who also coached Dement’s grandfather. Paxton also coached Tim Fitzgerald of TFG Financial, LLC.

“It’s just a hobby,” said Jackson, who with Fitzgerald and other boxing enthusiasts Paxton had coached started the SYBC last year. “We are a nonprofit, teaching amateur boxing. We teach the mechanics and techniques of the sport itself,” Jackson said. Most of the boxing club boxers are between the ages 8 and 14.

The boxers compete by age. The youngest boxers will be fighting in the 8- and 9-year-old division. Young amateur boxers go for three rounds, as opposed to professional boxers, who can fight a maximum of 12 rounds.

The sport has become increasingly popular with women. USA Boxing had officially banned women’s boxing, but lifted the ban in 1993. Women have competed in Golden Gloves competitions since 1995.

Dement has around 10 women in his boxing exercise classes. It is expected to be even more popular with women if Claressa Shields, who brought home the gold for the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, wins again in Rio.

Both coaches agree that people get into boxing for a variety of reasons, mainly to get in great shape. Dement advises newcomers to the sport to be open-minded and plan to settle in. It takes years to develop the skill, strength and stamina to compete, he said.

“Give it a chance. Whether it’s for fitness, self-defense or for competition, it won’t happen overnight. Try to have an open mind and be willing to work hard,” Dement said.

“Boxing builds confidence and teaches discipline. Self-esteem through self-defense. Being a part of a team which holds a tight family bond. We all work together and that builds close relationships,” Dement said.

“A lot of individuals that wouldn’t thrive in other sports excel in boxing,” Jackson said. 

“It takes a lot of discipline. They put into practice what they have learned. Most of the time they are the most physically fit. It’s more for the physical conditioning, but also the camaraderie.”

For more information about Dement Brothers Old School Boxing, call 617-1508. For information about the boxing club or tickets to the boxing event, call TFG Financial at 424-1116. Or visit Facebook and search for “dement boxing” and “tfg financial.”

– Kathleen Ward