Raymond Montchal stands in front of a painting of him and his late son, Nicholas, “Everybody in Cornerstone walks into the ring with him,” he says.
BY JEFFREY ZANKER
NNB Student Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG – When Raymond Montchal decided to start a boxing club in 2013, he converted his fence company building into a gym, got a boxing promoter license and lined up a partner – his son Nicholas.
Nicholas had boxed as a youth, played football at St. Pete Catholic and worked in his dad’s construction company.
“He wanted to give back to the community and kids that didn’t have the opportunities he had,” his father said.
But Nicholas was recovering from drug problems. He had become addicted to oxycodone after injuring both shoulders in football. He had been arrested twice on drug possession charges and had participated in a drug treatment program when he died of an accidental overdose in March 2014. He was 23.
Raymond Montchal pushed on, determine to teach boxing skills and drug awareness to youngsters in memory of his son.
He named his new venture the Cornerstone Boxing Club after references to cornerstones in the Bible. “When you build anything, the cornerstone is the foundation,” he said.
The club is a tribute to Nicholas, said Montchal. “Everybody in Cornerstone walks into the ring with him.”
Cornerstone started in April 2014 in a 5,500-square-foot building at 2500 Emerson Ave. S. The remodeling cost about $200,000, he said.
The workout gym has fitness machines, boxing bags and a full-size ring. On the walls are painted portraits of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and other boxers and quotations from boxers and the Bible.
There is also a portrait of Raymond and Nicholas along with thoughts that Nicholas had written in his Bible.
Boxing classes for men, women and children began this month. Members are trained in self-defense, fitness and stress management. The classes cost $85 a month for members. Twenty-five members have signed up.
“We have been getting good business through word of mouth,” Montchal said.
James Battle (left) trains boxer Danny Rosenberger at Cornerstone.
He has signed two professionals who hope to boost their careers boxing for Cornerstone’s professional team – veteran Darnell “Deezol” Boone, a super middleweight (161-168 pounds), and Danny Rosenberg, an amateur welterweight (140-147 pounds) who just turned pro.
Boone, 35, a pro boxer since 2004, said he has defeated three champions, but in his up-and-down career he has more losses than wins.
“My career has been a roller coaster ride,” he said. “But I have no regrets. I just keep going to become better.”
Rosenberger, 25, the son of a former New Jersey middleweight champion, came to Cornerstone at the recommendation of Boone, his sparring partner in Ohio. In his first professional fight, he and welterweight Julian Sosa fought to a draw in Brooklyn on June 4.
For a time, Boone and Rosenberger were joined at the club by Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy, 37, a St. Petersburg native and super middleweight who was once one of boxing’s biggest names. Lacy is now considering retirement, Montchal said.
Lacy and Boone both fought – and won – for Cornerstone in December at the TradeWinds Island Resort. Boone’s defeat of Colombian middleweight Dionisio Miranda with a one-punch knockout gave him his first world title in the National Boxing Association.
Since then, Boone has had two matches. He defeated rising super middleweight Phillip Jackson Benson, but lost to undefeated Russian middleweight Arif Magomedov.
In his spare time, Boone helps train younger boxers. “My experience in boxing is helping them get the real side,” Boone said. “It’s good to give experience to young amateurs you are starting.”
Cornerstone boxers work with James Battle, a trainer, and Robert Allen, a fitness coach.
Battle, 42, said he has trained boxers for 20 years. The deacon at Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church on 3700 22nd Ave. S is training more than 10 boxers at Cornerstone.
Allen, 53, works with different groups at Cornerstone. While conditioning the boxers, he also trains a young girls’ aerobatics team and works as a personal fitness trainer away from the gym.
Allen, a St. Petersburg native, works at a nursing home. He has preached at Rock of Jesus Missionary Baptist Church, he said, and he often provides gospel readings to boxers who seek spiritual guidance.
“It is like no other place that I have trained,” Rosenberger said. “They really care about their boxers, in and out of the ring.”
Veteran Darnell “Deezol” Boone, a professional since 2004, also works with younger boxers.
The club’s senior executive director, Chuck Nelson, 76, helped Montchal start the facility and helps manage the fighters. He is a veteran trainer and promoter and founded the K. O. Drugs High School Boxing Tournament in Ohio 27 years ago.
Cornerstone’s facility is still under development, and Montchal said he has been too busy traveling with his team to hold a proper opening.
“It was growing quicker than I can build the infrastructure,” he said. Construction of a swimming pool and steam rooms are in the works.
Cornerstone is promoting a professional boxing and charity event on Aug. 22 at the TradeWinds Island Resort to raise money for the Hope for the Warriors foundation. The nonprofit says it offers programs for members of the military, veterans and their families.
Montchal, a Brooklyn native, said he learned business and management skills through his stockbroker father. He did some street fighting in his youth, he said, and that helped prompt his interest in boxing.
“I don’t fight anymore. I fight with a pencil now,” he said.
He said he moved to Florida at 19 to train and sell thoroughbred horses. He briefly attended St. Petersburg Junior College and eventually became active in construction and real estate.
He owned RJM Communities, a real estate and construction company, and Hurrican Vinyl Fence, then closed them to start Cornerstone.
He lives in Treasure Island with his wife, Kim, and their three children. Kim, who worked with her husband in accounting and decorating, is one of Cornerstone’s managers.
Montchal said he enjoys his new career and wants to continue. His motto is “Submit, commit and have trust and faith in your team.”
“The sole purpose here is to help others and give back,” he said.
Information from boxrec.com and fightnews.com was used in this report.