Caption Only: Ogden youth find diversion in boxing ring

Tony Sammarae, Manuel Barela and Matthew Hallman work out at Barela's Boxing Gym in Ogden. Director Sally Barela established the gym to help kids steer clear of gang involvement. Columbia South Ogden Center for Family Medicine provided free checkups to the youth on Tuesday. The doctors gave thorough inspections and didn't find much wrong, said Barela. The boxing team is a gang diversion program sponsored by the Ogden Police Department. It encourages kids to use boxing rather than gang violence as a release. "We have kids who belong to different gangs on the team, but they like each other while they're competing," Barela said. Barela, 54, runs the team as a volunteer. Webber Real Estate donated the building in which the 40 members train. The kids travel around the state competing in boxing matches. Both girls and boys participate. The members range in age from 4 to 20, Barela said.