11-year-old Kaleb Gard is quiet in conversation, but he’s focused
like a lens when it comes to his studies in school and inside boxing’s squared
circle. Always into individual sports – with some football on the side – other
than golf, boxing has been young Kaleb’s sport of choice. When he isn’t
studying to maintain his A-Honor Roll average, Gard spends six days a week
training. And that training has paid off: Kaleb recently won his bout at the
Indiana Junior Olympics in his age and weight class in April – and he’s not
stopping there – Kaleb’s dream is to compete on the United States Olympic Team…
and then turn pro.
This issue’s
Athlete of the Month may be a young man of few words, but the words he speaks
resonate with the competitor in all of us.
GT: How long have you
been boxing?
KG: About a year and four months.
What motivated you to
start boxing?
My dad (who was a boxer in the Marine Corps).
What were some of the
first things you learned when you started training?
When I started, I learned the basic jab.
And where is it that
you train?
At Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Boxing Club.
How does your level
of boxing work? How many rounds are there?
There are three one-minute rounds.
So you’re an “A”
student; do you like school?
I’d say yes.
What’s your favorite
subject in school?
Math… or science.
Do you have a
least-favorite?
My least favorite would have to be English.
And what grade are
you in?
Sixth grade.
How do you balance
your school and boxing so that you can do well at both?
Well, I don’t have after-school programs, so that gives me
time to do my homework and get to the gym.
Who are some of your
biggest influences or heroes?
I’d like to be like Floyd Mayweather because of his style.
But then I also want to be like Mike Tyson, because he kept on knocking people
out.
What’s the most
challenging thing about boxing?
I’d say the workout.
What’s the most
challenging thing about being such a good student?
Trying to stay concentrated on my schoolwork and trying to
keep concentrated on boxing at the same time.
If you get frustrated
with something, what do you do to overcome it?
[I] just try to work more… don’t get too mad about it,
because you’re probably going to have to do the same thing again. If you keep on
working, then eventually you’ll get better.