CHICAGO — When Leatitia Robinson, a six-time Chicago Golden Gloves champion, smiles, her braced teeth are what stand out. That and her strong voice that commands the gym. When she speaks, people listen.
The 42-year-old Lake Meadows resident dons plenty of protective gear but manages to remain nimble while sparring as she trains boxing enthusiasts (from ages 5 to adults) at Simons Park. Robinson is currently the only female boxing instructor with the Chicago Park District.
On an overcast evening, she greeted Zaniya Hampton, 7, with a “How’s it going champ?” Zaniya’s father, Devyn Hampton, was dropping off his only daughter to train. Three weeks in, he said he knew his daughter was committed when she started crying the one day they couldn’t make the hourlong commute from their East Side residence.
