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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>A home at last for Job Walters</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Courtney Wallace
Saturday, January 13, 2007
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=354 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>A wide-angled view of boxers in training at the new Job Walters Gym in Anchovy, St James. </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>It was a joyous day for all concerned when Irie FM officially turned over the keys to a brand new training facility to the previously homeless boxers of the Job Walters Gym based in St James.<P class=StoryText align=justify>For too long, trainer and gym operator 'Smokin' Job Walters had to be passing on his wealth of knowledge to young, aspiring pugilists in far from conducive surroundings - in the open air under the stars.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But January 7 marked a new day for Walters and his students when they received a new facility which they can call home, where skills can now be honed in a ripe environment for proper development.<P class=StoryText align=justify>At the official handing over ceremony which took place in Anchovy in the St James, the guest list included Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association, president of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control Colonel Ken Barnes, president of the Commonwealth Sports Awards Al Hamilton and a host of well-wishers and Irie FM staff.
The ceremony was set on the pristine lawns of the BoJay's Entertainment Complex, as seven months of hard work to set up the gym climaxed with lots of hi-fives and congratulatory messages.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Irie FM and Bojay's Entertainment Complex came in for the most praise as they led the effort to raise funds for the erection and equipping of the new gym.<P class=StoryText align=justify>From a number of boxing cards, staged both here and abroad, the funds were raised and the dream for a home for the Job Walters Gym started to take shape.<P class=StoryText align=justify>From the proceeds from these fundraisers, it was possible for purchases to be made to acquire gloves, headgear, mouthpieces, hand wraps and punching bags. These were obtained and shipped from New York through the help Guyanese national Michael Carryll and boxing gear manufacturer, Everlast.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The gym itself was built in an area of Bojay's that had previously been used for domino competitions involving Irie FM and other teams from in and around the area.<P class=StoryText align=justify>And although the Job Walters Gym previously operated at the side of the road in Roehampton in St James for 15 years, its founder has proven to be one of the foremost boxing trainers in the Jamaica.<P class=StoryText align=justify>From the roadside, the gym has turned out five Caribbean champions and has been involved in the careers of a number of Jamaica's professionals who parade their skills in rings around the world.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But the reality of the need for the gym to move indoors to more ideal and comfortable surroundings came to the fore in June of last year when Job's son Nicholas returned from the Caribbean Championships where he won the gold medal in the featherweight class and was voted the tournament's best boxer overall.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Job Walters and his team then decided it was time to do something and reportedly paid a visit to Irie FM where they related their tale of desperation. A team from Irie then visited Roehampton to get a first hand look at the situation.<P class=StoryText align=justify>When the Irie team reached the Roehampton community and asked for the location of the gym, it was said that they were t
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Courtney Wallace
Saturday, January 13, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=354 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>A wide-angled view of boxers in training at the new Job Walters Gym in Anchovy, St James. </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>It was a joyous day for all concerned when Irie FM officially turned over the keys to a brand new training facility to the previously homeless boxers of the Job Walters Gym based in St James.<P class=StoryText align=justify>For too long, trainer and gym operator 'Smokin' Job Walters had to be passing on his wealth of knowledge to young, aspiring pugilists in far from conducive surroundings - in the open air under the stars.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But January 7 marked a new day for Walters and his students when they received a new facility which they can call home, where skills can now be honed in a ripe environment for proper development.<P class=StoryText align=justify>At the official handing over ceremony which took place in Anchovy in the St James, the guest list included Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association, president of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control Colonel Ken Barnes, president of the Commonwealth Sports Awards Al Hamilton and a host of well-wishers and Irie FM staff.The ceremony was set on the pristine lawns of the BoJay's Entertainment Complex, as seven months of hard work to set up the gym climaxed with lots of hi-fives and congratulatory messages.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Irie FM and Bojay's Entertainment Complex came in for the most praise as they led the effort to raise funds for the erection and equipping of the new gym.<P class=StoryText align=justify>From a number of boxing cards, staged both here and abroad, the funds were raised and the dream for a home for the Job Walters Gym started to take shape.<P class=StoryText align=justify>From the proceeds from these fundraisers, it was possible for purchases to be made to acquire gloves, headgear, mouthpieces, hand wraps and punching bags. These were obtained and shipped from New York through the help Guyanese national Michael Carryll and boxing gear manufacturer, Everlast.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The gym itself was built in an area of Bojay's that had previously been used for domino competitions involving Irie FM and other teams from in and around the area.<P class=StoryText align=justify>And although the Job Walters Gym previously operated at the side of the road in Roehampton in St James for 15 years, its founder has proven to be one of the foremost boxing trainers in the Jamaica.<P class=StoryText align=justify>From the roadside, the gym has turned out five Caribbean champions and has been involved in the careers of a number of Jamaica's professionals who parade their skills in rings around the world.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But the reality of the need for the gym to move indoors to more ideal and comfortable surroundings came to the fore in June of last year when Job's son Nicholas returned from the Caribbean Championships where he won the gold medal in the featherweight class and was voted the tournament's best boxer overall.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Job Walters and his team then decided it was time to do something and reportedly paid a visit to Irie FM where they related their tale of desperation. A team from Irie then visited Roehampton to get a first hand look at the situation.<P class=StoryText align=justify>When the Irie team reached the Roehampton community and asked for the location of the gym, it was said that they were t