Dude’s Boxing Club gets kids off the streets and into the ring

By Wendy O. Dixon

Don Ballard, known as Coach Dude to his boxing students, helps young people channel their energy in a positive way. With students ranging in age from 8 to 26 at Dude’s Boxing Club in DeFuniak Springs, Coach Dude’s focus is on making sure local kids have a chance at a prosperous and meaningful life. 

A certified USA boxing coach, Dude, along with Coach Chris Stone, his wife Gaylen, who is a coach as well, and his other volunteer coaches train the boxers, pair them in sparring matches, and also encourage them to build friendships. Even though it’s a fun place to train, the students are expected to put in the hard work, too. Many have hopes of winning championships and even getting to the Olympics. “We had three that we took to New Orleans this weekend, with two wins,” Dude says. “I don’t take them to fight unless they’re ready. You don’t play boxing. They’ve got to run, train and spar rounds to make sure they’re ready to fight and be part of the competition team. And they love it. They come in and train hard.”

At age 16, Dude started out as an amateur boxer. “Coach Buck McDuffie taught me a lot about boxing and life and I applied it, and it worked,” he says. After retiring as a fire chief in the Department of Defense, he went back to his home gym, where Buck’s son Sparky was coaching. “With Coach Sparky as my mentor, I did that for five years as a professional and amateur trainer then we moved to DeFuniak to be close to my daughter in Chipley.” 

The club location has bounced from one place to another. “Including a pole barn,” Dude says. “I prayed we could be attached to a church, and we found this place attached to Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy (PRCA). Basically, Coach Don and Amber Smith of American Ronin Jujitsu were kind enough to rent us a small space in the back of their school, which was awesome. This gave us a safe, dry place to train. There, I met Shalyn Tison, who is the head of PRCA. Without her and the board of PRCA, the club would have probably failed. Mrs. Tison was able to increase our square footage significantly, which made it possible for the club to survive. The good Lord blessed us with this club. We’re not a ministry club, but we are a boxing club that prays. It’s good for me too because it keeps me from cussing.”

Sponsorship packages for kids in need are available, thanks to the dues and donors who contribute to the boxing club. “I’ve got spots set aside for kids that can’t afford it if they show the willingness to fight.” 

Equipment doesn’t come cheap. “The boxing ring cost $7,000. The Hernandez family donated $1,500 to go toward getting it for us,” Dude says. “Their son is one of my best fighters, and he’s 10 years old.” Costs for traveling are expensive too. A five-day trip to the USA Boxing National Championship or Golden Gloves Tournament can run over $2,000. 

When he’s not coaching, Dude likes to take his KTM dirt bike out for a ride. “It’s going to be the death of me,” he says.

As he welcomes a great grandson into the family, and as others affiliated with the club add to their families, Dude sees future generations of boxers. 

Part of the fun of joining the club is hanging out when students are taking a break from training. “We’re a club,” Dude says. “It’s not private classes where you come in for an hour and then leave. They train hard and then hang out. I’d rather they be here having fun, playing foosball, and boxing rather than causing trouble.” 

You can learn more about Dude’s Boxing Club  on their Facebook Page. 

The Club is Currently Seeking Sponsors.