Stamford boxing program helps youths

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) - An youth boxing program is helping police in Stamford reach out to at-risk teenagers.

The program is headed by Ahmad Mickens, a professioal boxer and founder of the Revolution Fitness gym in Stamford.

Mickens runs the program in his free time, training teenagers nominated by the police department after they've had run-ins with police or family issues.

Their tuition is paid for by a police department grant.

Teenagers are nominated when officers believe that the youths could benefit from boxing's discipline and self-control.

The young boxers also participate in mandatory counseling sessions attended by police.

Officers say that relationships they've built with the teenagers benefit both sides, and have even led to some breaks in criminal cases.