The 2004 Kountze graduate and Prairie View A&M University graduate student is now the Southeast Texas Golden Gloves Champion.
The man of the hour is Jemiah Richards, a man turned boxer who says, “Growing up in Kountze, Texas, boxing was always the best way to solve a dispute.” At the age of 10 Richards explained how he and his cousin had a physical confrontation and ever since that day Richards was determined to become a better fighter and boxer.
Richards didn’t start seriously training and working out until after he graduated from Prairie View A&M with his bachelors degree on the 19th of December 2009.
Richards was recruited to Prairie View by former head basketball coach Francis in 2004. He came because his mother was convinced that this was the best place for him.
When asked what got him into boxing Richards said, “It was a courtesy that became fun that led to passion and turned to a genuine love for the sport.”
When it comes to role models Richards looks up to Muhammad Ali. ” Ali has always been my favorite boxing role model. Ali was not only one of the greatest boxers of all time but one of the major revolutionaries for blacks in America, he embodies the true meaning of a champion with his tireless dedication to the causes he believes in,” said Richards.
When asked Richards what he had to overcome during his boxing career he said, “Popping the Cherry” was something he had to overcome.
“It was a lot of hard work and dedication going into my first match, I had to adapt quickly to the speed of the match versus sparring and fighting with 10oz gloves versus the usual 16 oz. gloves that I train with,” he said.
Richards is currently 2-0, one TKO and unanimous decision. Richards is also currently working on his masters in accounting and when he is not training he says he is either studying or playing video games with his friends.
A Prairie View man who some call Kountze or Champ with an all-around boxing style may be the next big thing coming out of the university that produces productive people.