The One That Got Away

Charlie's not the only fighter excelling at the club. Big Greg Corbin, the 275-pound super-heavyweight, won the National Golden Gloves in May, though he's boxed for only three years. But trouble seems to have stalked another of Greg Hatley's fighters. Last month, Big Greg was indicted as a co-conspirator in a federal case that's tied to a Mexican drug cartel. The trial is set for later this month. Julie Goldsticker, a spokesman for USA Boxing, says she doesn't know if Big Greg can continue to fight.

Greg Hatley doesn't know how long the club will stay open. Rent's $3,500 a month, and most of it's paid out of Hatley's pocket. But help has come from an unlikely source.

"That's Todd's check," Hatley says, motioning with his eyes to the opened envelope lying next to him in the pickup. And indeed it is. Eighteen months after the Todd Wagner Foundation quit funding the club, Wagner continues to write personal checks to Greg Hatley. Today's is for $10,000.

Wagner will later say, "Even though what Greg does may not fit in with [the foundation's goals]...I still support and believe in him."

But fewer kids come to the gym these days. With a construction business occupying much of his day, Hatley doesn't have the time he used to, can't keep track of kids the way he used to. "I'm losing 'em again," he says, driving the pickup through the Pinks, handing out fliers for Black Gloves. Men, women, toddlers and teens stand around with nothing to do.

Hatley drives to another complex, and there, under the streetlight--"There's two of 'em," he says.

His former fighters stare when they see Hatley roll down his window. You can tell that they wonder if they're in trouble.

"Why ain't y'all been in the gym?" Hatley asks.

The skinny kid looks to the bulkier of the two. "'Cause I ain't got no way up there," the bulkier one says.

Hatley grimaces. Maybe if he gets off the job site before 5 p.m., and if traffic's not bad, and maybe if he picks them up just once, it'll motivate them to come back...

He looks at both of them. "All right," he says. "I'll be coming by about 5 to 5:30. You be here."

The skinny one says nothing.

The bulkier boy speaks up. "I'll be there."