In pictures: Hope and hard knocks at one Montreal boxing club
Each day after class, kids from one of Montreal's grittiest neighbourhoods come together to prove themselves, and prove the doubters wrong at Club de Boxe l'Espoir. The Hope Boxing Club. Boxing's narrative has long been one of inner-city kids rising above their circumstances. This one's woven into the backdrop of the new Canada, a place where kids from a dozen ethnic backgrounds find a common purpose under one roof.
A trainer (right) and teens train at the Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
A teenager prepares for training at the Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Teenagers train at the Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
A trainer puts teens through a workout at the Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Boxing gloves are piled on shelves at Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy, in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Olivier Lontchi (L) coaches teens at the Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Montreal police officer Evens Guercy (centre, in the background) helps train teenagers in the ring at his Hope Boxing Club in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Montreal police officer Evens Guercy (left) watches training alongside 17- year old Alexandre Leng (centre) by the ring at Guercy's Hope Boxing Club in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Montreal police officer Evens Guercy (right) shows boxing techniques to a newcomer at his Hope Boxing Club in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
A teenager trains at Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, on March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Montreal police officer Evens Guercy (left) talks to coach Olivier Lontchi at Guercy's Hope Boxing Club in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
A trainer leads teenagers through a warm-up at Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
17 year old Alexandre Leng trains at the Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Olivier Lontchi (L) coaches teens at the Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
Montreal police officer Evens Guercy (centre) shows boxing techniques to two teenagers at his Hope Boxing Club in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail
A trainer puts teens through a workout at the Hope Boxing Club, a club started by Montreal police officer Evens Guercy in the St. Michel district of Montreal, March 19, 2012.Christinne Muschi for The Globe and Mail