Early records of boxing matches date back as far as 4,000 BC to the early Greek and Roman civilizations. The Olympics itself originated in ancient Greece with boxing as one of its premier attractions. And upon becoming an officially organized sport in 1888 and a recognized part of the contemporary Olympic Games, boxing took on an even greater appeal to young people with glowing athletic dreams. Organizations like the Police Athletic League (PAL) came into being in the early 20th century, offering American teens and children — in particular those growing up in the inner cities — a healthy alternative to society’s baser temptations.

Such organizations were grounded in a belief that activities offering a sense of competitive achievement would prove instrumental in fostering responsibility and character in American youth. Now a century later, the founders of those organizations are looked upon as pioneers for what their programs have accomplished in that time.

New London harbors an array of such programs akin to the old Police Athletic Leagues … second-to-none in helping mold and shape positive futures for local youth.

One such organization is Whaling City Boxing on 367 Bank St. and its Heavy Hitters Program. It operates under the ownership and tutelage of Kent Ward, who believes firmly in the sport as a vehicle not only for developing solid athletes, but better members of society as well.

“This place becomes a home-away-from-home for a lot of our young people,” said Ward in a recent interview regarding some of his gym’s rising new prospects. His outlook reflects a mix of coaching and mentorship — with an added touch of parental concern.

“We present an opportunity here for them to develop a sense of respect, accountability, and loyalty. In short, it’s a contract they sign by shaking my hand — an assurance of making that commitment.”

Ward recognizes how honoring that kind of commitment is no small task in today’s demanding culture.

“It’s important that we try guiding our young people into assembling the strength of character they’ll need in life. And there are elements out there that will make it difficult; make no mistake about it,” he added. “But if we can weave those character traits into their workouts and how they regard one another in the gym, it carries into other aspects of their lives like success in school. It’s like magic,” he beamed.

And Kent Ward has witnessed much success over the years. But perhaps one of his biggest finds came when Alejandro Paulino of New London walked into the gym as a 13-year-old.

Now 19, Alejandro started by picking up the fundamentals quickly via the expert guidance of Ward’s original boxing mentor, longtime veteran trainer Rollie Pier — a wily craftsman of some 60 years in the sport and over a hundred fights of his own. Pier recognized the youngster’s instant grasp of boxing’s many complex maneuvers, but the talented 13-year-old was not ready yet to commit to this particular sport.

Instead, he was drawn more to one of Ward’s other youth programs — Whaling City Wrestling. Alejandro would go on to a stunning four-year stint as a varsity wrestler for New London High School where he won the state championship, and also worked out with the John Knapp Wrestling Club in Windsor under renowned coach Rashib Robledo.

At New London High, Alejandro’s wrestling coach was Mike Gorton, who had a very positive impact on the young man’s development and athletic discipline

Alejandro eventually qualified for the All-New England Regionals, ultimately attaining All-American status in the 140 pound division. His early boxing endeavors had become a distant memory.

“Alejandro wasn’t ready to embrace boxing when he first came to the gym,” said Ward. “But the wrestling turned out to be the right move for him at the time, given the range of his success and his enjoyment of the sport. When he graduated from New London High in June of 2016, though, he came back to the gym and was ready to pick up on boxing again.”

Alejandro found himself working again with a familiar old friend … Whaling City Boxing’s venerable master of pugilism, Rollie Pier.

“When I first came back, I spent something like the first two months working just with Rollie,” Alejandro explained. “We started all over again with the proper stance and how to throw correct jabs and straight rights, hooks and uppercuts … over-and-over. Rollie never gets tired of drilling everyone on all the right techniques — and that includes defense and countering. If you want to be a complete fighter, you have to learn all of it.”

Now he trains predominantly with Ward and with Chris Marrero, whose four sons also compete frequently and successfully out of Whaling City Boxing.

“We’re bringing Alejandro along at the right competitive pace and making sure we don’t get ahead of ourselves,” Ward explained. “He has a lot of raw talent that still has to be developed and refined first.”

That pace evidently is the right one. Alejandro’s 10-0 record in a mere year of competitive boxing has already resulted in his winning the Western New England Qualifier in Holyoke and Springfield, Mass., emerging as Golden Gloves Champion and being selected as the Best Boxer in all Weight Categories of the Entire Tournament.

Then he went to the All-New England Championships in Lowell, Mass., where he won the Golden Gloves Championship there and repeated in this even more highly rated competition as the Best Boxer in all Weight Categories of the Entire Tournament.

“Down the road, something like the Olympics might well be in the discussion,” said Ward. “And, of course, once you attain that level, your chances of a solid professional career are set.”

Alejandro glows at the thought of such prospects … but under Ward’s and Marrero’s tutelage, he has his eyes set firmly on what’s directly in front of him for now. More so, he loves the sport as he loved competitive wrestling.

“It’s the one-on-one part of competing I enjoy most,” he explained. “Like with wrestling, there’s no one out there with you. In a team sport, you can work hard and put out your best on the field, but you still have to depend on someone else doing the same if you’re going to win. Here, it’s all up to me … and I like that.”

An amiable young man who enjoys a laugh and the fellowship of everyone else in the gym, Alejandro turns all business once it’s time to focus on the craft that has earned him his sparkling 10-0 start in the welterweight division. “Sometimes in the ring we might go a little harder than usual in sparring, but it’s necessary because we all know our opponents won’t be going easy,” Alejandro said. “It’s a matter of trying to stay that one step ahead of whoever you’re fighting and outthinking him on what to do next. We help each other in that way when we spar.”

Alejandro acknowledged losing a lot when he first started wrestling, but he likes focusing on improving every time out.

“I like winning … and I like looking good doing it,” he said with a big smile.