Video: Baz saw Stevie Wonder and his band sing at his birthday party (Credit: Marcellus Baz)
The founder of Nottingham’s School of Boxing has returned from Los Angeles after addressing a gang crime conference – and partying with Stevie Wonder.
Also the founder of boxing charity Switch Up, Marcellus Baz, known as Baz, was invited to Los Angeles to speak at a two day international press conference tackling the issue of gang crime.
While in LA, Baz was invited to speak on Steve Wonder’s radio show KJLH before getting to meet the man himself.
Baz said: “After speaking on Stevie Wonder’s radio station, I was invited to meet Stevie at his birthday party.
“Stevie is a really humble man and believes in giving back to his community to make a positive change.
“He was interested to hear about the work we do back in Nottingham.”
Baz also met the daughter of Muhammad Ali, Maryum ‘May May’ and created a partnership with her gang prevention and youth development charity DMTL.
He said: “I was privileged to spend time with the daughter of the greatest boxer that ever lived.
“Maryum runs an organisation called DMTL alongside my good friend and co-founder Buchanan Nason.
“DMTL is a fantastic organisation that helps change lives and help families into positive avenues.
“I am delighted to announce we are now working in partnership with this great organisation.”
Freddie Roach, the boxing coach of eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, five-time and four-division world champion Miguel Cotto and former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez invited Baz along to his boxing gym Wild Card to shadow him.
While in LA, Baz also visited Compton and Watts.
He said: “I couldn’t have gone to California without visiting there.
“They are areas in the south of Los Angeles known for their high rate of gang violence and deprivation.”
Baz said he learnt a lot from his time in LA.
He said: “It was a fantastic experience to be part of the two day international gang prevention and intervention conference in Los Angeles.
“We all shared our experiences and resources to become better at what we do.
“I will be apply that learning and knowledge here in Nottingham.”
