Tsetsi Davis ... marched into Contender final. - File

Leighton Levy, Star Writer

Larry McGhee's heart has always been with boxing. More than two decades ago, he was in the corner of heavyweight hitter Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock and, about two months ago, he was in the corner of Contender finalist Tsetsi Davis during that memorable brawl with eventual winner Sakima Mullings.

Come tomorrow, McGhee and Davis will be partnering again to use the sport of boxing to unearth, expose and empower any available talent in St Catherine that could become Jamaica's next Olympian. In a boxing event dubbed Emancipate Yourself: In search of future champions, set for Freddie's Sports Bar at 51 Jobs Lane in the old capital. McGhee hopes to start the process of rescuing children from the clutches of the criminal element.

"This is an effort to get the kids off the street for some to trade the guns for gloves," said McGhee, who is also a businessman operating in the crime-ravaged Spanish Town community.

McGhee and partners Davis and Wayne Sharp believe Emancipate Yourself can be an opportunity everyone can benefit from. Davis, he said, will spar a few rounds with boxers from the Jamaica Defence Force and other gyms and there will also be some two to three-round amateur bouts that he hopes will inspire youngsters in attendance.

"We will glove them up and introduce them to the sport," said McGhee.

Davis, whose fame has skyrocketed over the past three years because of his participation in the extremely popular Contender series, is hoping he can put his fame to good use. "I want to get the kids off the street," said Davis. "Instead of them always bigging me up, I want to big them up, too." He said he wants kids from the most troubled communities to come out and be inspired and perhaps begin a life as a boxer.

McGhee said he would also like to see some girls coming out and being a part of the experience.

The first fight on is set for 8 p.m.