Helping Our Youth Excel Boxing Trip

Hi, my name is Robert “Rico” Hoye. I run a boxing program Helping Our Youth Excel, out of Against The Ropes Fitness Center in Chandler, Arizona. I have been boxing for as long as I can remember. My first teacher was my grandfather Bob “Too Sweet” Hoye, and my first influence was my father, Bobby “Rico” Hoye. They both fought as professionals. I had the chance to watch my father fight live for the first time in 1980 at the Olympia Auditorium in Detroit, Michigan. It was then, as a 6yr old kid I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I was excited to learn, so every chance I could get my grandfather to hold up his hands and teach me punches, I jumped at it, and every chance I got to spend with my father in the gym was a moment treasured. I learned valuable lessons thru the sport of boxing. I learned about Hard work, Discipline, Sacrifice, Determination, Focus, Leadership, sportsmanship, and living a clean & healthy lifestyle.

Like life, you know that every round isn’t a guarantee, so take advantage of the moments, and if you get knocked down and can get up, get up and get back in the fight; give 1000000pct.

I was very fortunate; unlike many 6yr olds who dream that what they plan to do as adults will change a million times before reaching adulthood, I was lucky; I was able to follow that dream.

I began competitively boxing in April 1984 in the Toledo (Ohio) Golden Gloves Amateur Tournament. I represented the Arthur Leslow Community Center (ALCC) in Monroe, Michigan as a 10-year-old, the same club my dad represented as a kid 1960s and my grandfather before him in the 1950s. Oh yeah, I did win that first fight by 1st Rd RSC (referee stops contest)

I started my professional boxing career in June 2001 and finished in June 2014. In 2015 My wife and I began H.O.Y.E. (Helping Our Youth Excel) Boxing Academy out of our garage. The goal was to teach local youth in the community the sport of boxing and pass on the many lessons and blessings from boxing mentors I learned as a kid.

H.O.Y.E. boxing's goal is to help develop championship mindsets in our youth while giving them the tools and resources to become champions in the boxing ring and in life.

On November 5th, the ALCC, called Opportunity Center at the ALCC, will host an amateur boxing show. We want to take a team of our young and aspiring champions back to Monroe, Michigan, to compete on this boxing card.

Helping Our Youth Excel Against the Ropes team

Andrew Mendez 15

Kamario Onacki 14

Teddy Williamson 13

Angel Mendez 12

Adrian Mendez 9

and David Trail 8

will be featured on the boxing show. I am reaching out for help to cover travel and lodging expenses to take our kids to Monroe, Michigan, to compete in this show, and I will get the opportunity to show my young men where it all started for me and led me to be a part of their lives.

Any and everything will help and give these young men an opportunity to follow their dreams, and let's hope we can one day see them on the Olympic & World Championship stages. Helping Our Youth Excel is a not-for-profit program. The monies donated are used entirely for the Boxing Programs Operation to cover travel, lodging, registrations, uniforms, and equipment.