HR 1620: Morehouse Boxing Club; commend

House Resolution 1620

By: Representatives Bell of the 75th, Berry of the 56th, Holly of the 116th, McQueen of the 61st, Jones of the 60th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Commending the Morehouse Boxing Club; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Morehouse Boxing Club was founded in 2021 by Jacobey D. Bell in the lobby of Perdue Hall at Morehouse College; and

WHEREAS, as a product of the Guns Down Hands Up Boxing Gym, Mr. Bell was inspired by the discipline, structure, and principles instilled in him through boxing, which motivated him to establish a program that would offer similar guidance and opportunity to other young men; and

WHEREAS, the club began humbly yet boldly, frequently filling the lobby of Perdue Hall for meetings, practices, and sparring tournaments, demonstrating immediate student interest and engagement; and

WHEREAS, despite facing early challenges and administrative reprimands for hosting practices and sparring tournaments on campus, the club persevered through determination and commitment; and

WHEREAS, Morehouse College Chief of Police Charles Prescott intervened in support of the organization, becoming its first official advisor and helping ensure that meetings and competitions could be conducted safely and in accordance with campus policy; and

WHEREAS, through years of hard work, loyalty, and dedication, the Morehouse Boxing Club earned the opportunity to compete in the 2025 United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association (USIBA) National Tournament; and

WHEREAS, in the face of adversity and strong national competition, the team distinguished itself by earning two championship belts, won by Kaleb Hudson and Elijah McClean; and

WHEREAS, the Morehouse Boxing Club proudly became the first Historically Black College or University to enter and win at the USIBA National Tournament, establishing a historic milestone for HBCUs nationwide; and

WHEREAS, the organization now seeks to return to the 2026 USIBA National Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, with both returning athletes and new competitors representing Morehouse College and the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Morehouse Boxing Club is to engage the community on and off campus by promoting discipline, physical fitness, mentorship, and healthy lifestyles as positive alternatives for young people; and

WHEREAS, the club regularly visits local middle and high schools to present boxing not only as a competitive sport but also as a pathway to higher education and leadership development; and

WHEREAS, the organization is actively working to secure scholarship opportunities to enable young athletes to attend Morehouse College and further their academic and athletic aspirations; and

WHEREAS, the following student athletes exemplify the Morehouse Boxing spirit of dedication, fitness, scholarship, and mentorship: Ethan Stevenson, Senior, Economics Major, Baltimore, Maryland, 147 pounds Beginner Division, third place with a 1 and 1 record, who aspires to pursue a career in finance and establish his own investment and wealth management firm; Alofamoni Galoia, Junior, Business Major, Pavaiai, Tutuila, 165 pounds Beginner Division, who aspires to home ownership and entrepreneurship; Joshua Callahan, Freshman, Biology Major, Atlanta, Georgia, 154 pounds Beginner Division, who plans to pursue a career in hematology within the medical profession; Elijah McClean, Sophomore, Business Administration Major with a concentration in Marketing, Brooklyn, New York, 165 pounds Open Division Champion with a 1 and 0 record; Emmanuel Seifu, Freshman, Kinesiology Major, Marietta, Georgia, 154 pounds Open Division with a 3 and 2 record, who aspires to pursue professional boxing and become a Physician Assistant; Kaleb Hudson, Junior, Biology Major, Lithonia, Georgia, 140 pounds Beginner Division Champion, who aspires to pursue a career in psychedelic research and holistic health entrepreneurship; Breonne Dupree, Sophomore, Dual Degree Engineering Major, Atlanta, Georgia, 132 pounds Beginner Division, who aspires to become a hardware engineer at an impactful technology company and open a consignment business; and Chad Pitts, Junior, Economics Major, Atlanta, Georgia, 135 pounds Open Division, who aspires to pursue a professional boxing career following graduation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend the Morehouse Boxing Club for its historic achievements, dedication to mentorship and community engagement, and for representing Morehouse College and the State of Georgia with excellence and distinction. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Morehouse Boxing Club.