Memphis boxing coach Kenneth Cole builds Bevo Boys Fitness Academy to mentor at-risk youth

A decade-long effort centered on discipline, mentorship and an open-door policy

A Memphis-based after-school boxing program is using structured training and close adult mentorship to steer young people away from street violence and toward routine, accountability and fitness.

Kenneth Cole, a former professional boxer known to participants as “Coach Kenny,” has led the effort for about a decade through the Bevo Boys Fitness Academy. Cole began boxing at age 13 and has said the sport’s structure helped keep him out of trouble as a teenager. He later competed in the amateurs, won multiple championships, and boxed professionally for a brief period before turning his attention toward community work.

What the program does — and what it asks of students

Bevo Boys Fitness Academy operates as an after-school program aimed at serving youth described by organizers as at-risk. Its approach centers on boxing fundamentals—training, conditioning and technique—paired with expectations that extend beyond the gym.

• Discipline and behavior standards are emphasized in day-to-day training.

• Adults involved with the program monitor school performance and home conduct, including checking report cards and communicating expectations around respect for parents and teachers.

• Organizers describe an “open door” policy, stating that children who arrive seeking to train are not turned away.

The program’s advisory board includes Tempia Waddell, who has worked with the academy for roughly four years. Waddell has described the work as hands-on and highly engaged, reflecting an approach that treats athletic participation as a gateway to broader mentoring and accountability.

The gym’s stated focus is not only athletic development, but also creating consistent routines and adult oversight for young people who may lack them elsewhere.

Meaning of “Bevo” and the role of legacy

The name “Bevo” is used in two ways within the program: as an acronym for “Be Empowered Victorious Ones,” and as a reference to Cole’s former coach, whom Cole credits as a formative influence. That dual meaning reflects how the academy frames its work—grounding training in personal history while presenting boxing as a tool for building self-control and resilience.

Cole has said he encourages youth to eventually return as leaders, asking participants to “pull” others forward when they are older, creating a cycle of mentorship that is intended to outlast any single coach.

Upcoming community event at Hickory Ridge Mall

The academy is scheduled to host “Safe Rounds: Community in the Ring,” a free community event organized in partnership with the Memphis Police Department. The event is set for March 7, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., at the academy’s location inside Hickory Ridge Mall.

Organizers have said the event is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 17 and is intended to introduce families to the program’s training environment and expectations.

The academy’s broader goal remains consistent: use the attraction of boxing to bring young people into a supervised setting where adults can reinforce discipline, school engagement and pro-social behavior.