Marco Dean Davis turns boxing gains into Kingston youth camp

Nineteen-year-old Marco Dean Davis once avoided his own reflection. Extra weight had drained his self-worth until he walked into a boxing gym — a choice that reshaped his physique and, more importantly, how he saw himself.

The son of dancehall heavyweights Beenie Man and D’Angel now trains as an amateur, lining up competition dates while rolling out a project meant to pass that renewed assurance on to other young Jamaicans.

He points to professional coach Kemahl Russell as the guide who helped him recover his self-image after regular workouts and calorie watching brought little change.

“I was gaining lots of weight, and I just didn’t feel confident about myself the way I should and I just didn’t like the way I looked. I tried losing the weight through normal exercises and diet but I didn’t see much progress so that was when I decided to do boxing,” he told THE STAR.

Time in the ring delivered more than he had hoped for.

“After I started, I realised that boxing is not just about losing weight or a self-defence method but was also a form of discipline and it helps to just keep you grounded. This is my fifth year and I am solid right now. I am at amateur level and I am getting ready to compete,” he said.

That turnaround pushed him to create openings for others. This Monday he opens his Youth Summer Boxing Camp on Shortwood Road in Kingston. The joint effort targets boys and girls from 10 to 18, stressing confidence, self-esteem, discipline, fitness, self-control, sportsmanship and mental toughness.

“The camp is for children ages 10 to 18 years old. We are going to work not only on their physical but also their mindset. The aim is to empower the youths, and I am trying to give back everything that I have learnt. We are the future of this country so we need to be confident and well-rounded so we can be great men and women of Jamaica and believe it or not, boxing can help you to achieve all of that,” Davis said.

Fresh from Hillel Academy, he frames the camp as a natural next step after watching his parents support charitable causes, especially his mother’s outreach.

“My parents partake in a lot of charity events, and I have always been out there especially with my mother when she does her thing. It is only natural that I see the urge to make my contribution towards the youths and just not only be a role model but be there to teach them what I know. This is only the beginning of what I have in store. Thing is, it doesn’t matter how young we are and what backgrounds we are from. We can make a difference,” he said.

Boxing still claims much of his schedule, yet he is also readying a move into music, intent on carving his own path while honouring the family tradition in entertainment.

“Genetically, I am talented as both my parents are exceptional recording artistes so I will be going into music while continuing with boxing. I am going to take it to another level. I will definitely be going into the performing arts field. I have a collaboration with my mother coming up soon. I am not sure what my dad’s plan is. Ultimately, I will be going to university, but my parents are allowing me to start my own programme and find myself a bit,” Davis said.