Stories from the Third Ward: Champions Beyond the Ring
from Public Historians at Work
Send us Fan Mail Step inside the Progressive Amateur Boxing Association, where the walls carry decades of history, pride, resilience, and community. In this special episode, graduate student Gabriel Griffin sits down with Coach Ray Martin Jr., who has spent 32 years carrying forward the mission his father began in 1969. Founded as a safe haven for Black youth during the Civil Rights era, the gym has grown into a multigenerational cornerstone of Third Ward identity—shaping lives through discipline, mentorship, and hope. This episode explores the history, transformation, and enduring spirit of a community institution that continues to fight for the future. This episode was researched and recorded by Gabriel Griffin for the Center for Public History at the University of Houston. To Learn More: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialProgressiveAmateurBoxingAssociation/ Instagram @pababoxinggym Defender News Service. "PABA continues to make community impact." Defender, June 21, 2019. Jennifer Mathieu. "Fighting Chances." HoustonPress, April 15, 1999. Music and audio courtesy of: Pixabay Music: Skilsel - "Energetic Hip-Hop" MrWashington - "Boom Bap radio" ARPMedia - "LoFi Hiphop" TOOONE - "45 SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE" kontraa - "Hype | Drill Music" mirostar - "HipHop Beat - HipHop" The_Mountain - "Hip Hop Street" The Center for Public History at the University of Houston. https://uh.edu/class/cph
Embed this episode
What this episode covers
Send us Fan Mail Step inside the Progressive Amateur Boxing Association, where the walls carry decades of history, pride, resilience, and community. In this special episode, graduate student Gabriel Griffin sits down with Coach Ray Martin Jr., who has spent 32 years carrying forward the mission his father began in 1969. Founded as a safe haven for Black youth during the Civil Rights era, the gym has grown into a multigenerational cornerstone of Third Ward identity—shaping lives through discip...
No transcript yet.