"Our goal is to encourage all of our children and youth to live healthier and more focused lives."

Devonne Canady, Executive Director

Mission
 
To introduce amateur boxing by encouraging sport participation, physical activity, health and wellness among the areas youth, boys and girls alike. 


​About
​
Elephant in the Room Boxing Club (EIR) is a non-profit organization located in New Haven, Connecticut.
 
EIR was founded by Executive Director, Devonne Canady. The first and only Gold Medalist Amateur World Champion in the sport of boxing for nine years.
 
EIR, a co-ed boxing gym, offers adult boxing programs and a youth boxing program that incorporates an after school program and access to an onsite social worker. The objective is to attract and involve more young people in the sport of amateur boxing and to provide choices for the youth which will then have a positive impact on the community. Our goal is to encourage all of our children and youth to live healthier and more focused lives. Programs are instructed by professional and nationally licensed boxing instructors.
 
EIR provides training, management and promotion to professional boxers.

Whether in a boxing ring or hospital, Devonne Canady has always been a fighter, either as the underdog or for the underdog.  In this Justin Ervin directed documentary, we follow the former. Watch Devonne, an Olympic boxing gold medalist/pediatric nurse/boxing coach as she mentors two inner city teenagers, Emily and Zaneta, through her non-profit gym Elephant in the Room Boxing Club. Issues arise when one of the teen’s absence from the boxing gym and from school is attributed to her growing personal demons.  This passion to fight for others prompts Devonne to help get the troubled teen back on the right track and eventually face the elephant in the room. Purchase DVD here