ROCHESTER, N.Y. —  World Gym in Greece recently hosted a one-day free boxing camp. The camp, which was designed to reach out to both boxing enthusiasts and the broader community, featured a special appearance by a six-time professional boxing champion.

Aspiring boxers from the area flocked to the event, eager to learn from a seasoned athlete and take their skills to the next level.

Larry Lyautey from the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame explained the motivation behind the event.

"We wanted to do something to reach out to the community as a whole, not just the boxing community, so we offered a free camp," Lyautey said.

His vision was to use the sport as a means to engage the community, offering a positive outlet for youth and a chance for everyone to experience the benefits of boxing.

Jason Jimenez, a boxing coach at World Gym, echoed this sentiment.

"For some of these kids, it's just going to teach them a lot of discipline to get them through life. We help a lot of the youth off the streets and things like that," Jimenez noted, highlighting the transformative power of boxing in the lives of young people.

One of the main attractions of the camp was the presence of Fitz Vanderpool, a Canadian professional boxer and former six-time welterweight champion. Vanderpool, known as "The Whip" for his agility and power in the ring, has had an illustrious career that has made a significant impact on the boxing world.

Larry Lyautey shared how Vanderpool's involvement came to be.

"I contacted Fitz Vanderpool, who's here today, six-time world champ, and he was more than delighted to come and join us and help us out with our cause," he said.

Jason Jimenez was equally enthusiastic about Vanderpool's presence.

"I met Fitz quite a few times, and he's just a really good role model to have around, so we're lucky," Jimenez said.

Vanderpool's experience and dedication to the sport made him an ideal figure to inspire the camp's participants.

During the event, Vanderpool shared a personal story that resonated with many in attendance.

"I fought down here in Rochester back in 1995 against Charles 'Action' Murry. Charles beat me in the sixth round and knocked me out, and I was advised by family and others to quit boxing, to retire. If I would have quit when my family and others told me to quit, I never would have been where I am now today," Vanderpool reflected.

His words served as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance and resilience, both in boxing and in life.

The camp also featured Dustin Jimenez, the 2024 National Golden Gloves champion at 139 pounds, who is preparing for Team USA training camp in Colorado. Jimenez emphasized the value of returning to the basics in training.

"In three weeks, I'm going up to Colorado for Team USA training camp. It's always good to go back to the basics," said Dustin.

Participants had another unique opportunity to meet Henry "Discombobulating" Jones, the first Black ring announcer, who was trained by the legendary Michael Buffer. Jones, who has paved the way for others in the sport, spoke about the importance of mentorship and visibility.

"Growing up, I didn't have that mentor in my life. I wanted it to be visible and let them know that we're here for them, to empower them to be the very best that they can be," Jones said.

As the camp came to a close, Vanderpool offered some final words of wisdom to the participants.

"I don't need to teach them something that they're going to learn in boxing, but they can take with them in real life and a real world and apply and say, hey, this is what I was taught by 'The Whip,' " Vanderpool said, underscoring the life lessons that boxing can impart.

The event concluded with participants receiving a free swag bag and pictures with Vanderpool.