The Heavy Hitta's Boxing Club and Heart of Worship Restoration had a special visitor at their boxing and gospel festival Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Lawncrest Recreation Center on 6000 Rising Sun Ave.David Bey, who won the United States Boxing Association heavyweight title against Greg Page in 1984, said he lives around the corner from the center and was invited to the event by Rick Terrell, the Heavy Hitta's Chief Executive Officer.
Bey lost an International Boxing Federation heavyweight title match to Larry Holmes in 1985 and lost the USBA heavyweight title the same year to Trever Berbick. He started boxing professionally in 1981, when he defeated James "Buster" Douglas, and retired in 1994. He finished his career with an 18-11-1 record.
"I was on top of the world [in 1984] and then it all went downhill from there," Bey said. "I had fun though."
Bey said he enjoyed watching the 15 matches at the boxing and gospel festival because it reminded him of when he first started boxing.
"I've got butterflies right now even though my time boxing is over," he said. "You never lose that feeling of intensity as a fighter. If you don't feel something when you're watching the sport, then something's wrong with you."
Bey said he recently lost his job in the construction industry because he was laid off but would like to somehow get back involved with boxing, maybe even with Heavy Hitta's.
"I'd love to train fighters," he said. "Plus, it would get me back in the gym!"
Jennifer Reardon and Maria Konidaris, Group 20, Northeast Philadelphia
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