They just made history with their fists—and their hearts.
This past weekend, the Morehouse College Boxing Club, a student-run organization became the first-ever HBCU to compete in the U.S. Intercollegiate Boxing Association National Tournament, Atlanta News First reports. And not only did they show up—they showed out!
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Two of the club’s fighters, Elijah McLean and Kaleb Hudson, won national titles in their respective weight classes, proving that Black excellence knows no bounds—even in the boxing ring. It is a historic first for historically Black colleges.
“In the 20 years that they’ve been established, to our knowledge, there has never been an HBCU in the tournament,” said Jacobey Bell, the club’s president and founder. “And it’s not many HBCUs with a boxing club in general.”
According to Morehouse College’s Chief of Police Charles Prescott, an avid supporter of the club, the long awaited presence of HBCUs at national boxing tournatments is due to the sport no longer being sanctioned by the NCAA.
“Since [the] NCAA stopped sanctioning boxing for varsity compeition in the ‘60s, our club had to stand on its own outside the athletics umbrella. This victory is a testament to the dedication and resilience of our student athletes and the epitome of Morehouse. When there’s a need for change, there’s always a Morehouse Man somewhere present,” Prescott captioned a post to social media about the historic win.
Founded as a student club, the Morehouse Boxing Club formed a seven-member competitive team this year, despite limited funding and major logistical challenges. With grit, community support, and a whole lot of hustle, they made their way to Macon, GA, for the national tournament—and left with history in hand.
Elijah McLean (17-8) secured the 168-pound Men’s Open title, defeating Glenville State University’s Aaron O’Connor (9-2), while Kaleb Hudson triumphed over the University of Washington’s Evan Lee to win the 140-pound Beginner B bracket.
The Open brackets are reserved for fighters with 10 or more bouts, while the Beginner bracket is for those with two or fewer—showcasing the range of talent coming out of the Morehouse program. The journey wasn’t easy and one of the biggest challenges they faced was funding. That’s when Chief Prescott stepped in, helping raise funds and even donating out of his own pocket to ensure the team could cover travel and lodging.
“A huge shout-out to Morehouse College and our Student Services for their continued support! As a registered student organization, the Boxing Club has flourished, and we couldn’t have done this without all the support,” Prescott added.
Their story is a powerful reminder of what happens when vision meets determination—and community. Because of them, the next generation of Black boxers will know they belong—in the ring, in the record books, and in the history of our excellence. Want to support these young kings on their continued journey?
Click HERE to donate to the Morehouse Boxing Club.
Cover photo: Morehouse College Makes History as First HBCU to Compete & Win National Boxing Tournament/Photo Credit: Morehouse Boxing Club/Instagram