A Brooklyn man taking inspiration from his father has done something special to keep kids in the South Bronx out of trouble.

Boxing is much more than a sport for Eric Kelly. He credits it with saving his life, and now he wants to do the same for Bronx youth.

Kelly at a young age moved from Florida to Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with his father. Kelly says his dad wanted to make sure he stayed off the streets and out of trouble, so he put him into boxing.

From there, Kelly grew to love the sport, and it became his passion. He was a four-time national champion and two-time New York Daily News Golden Gloves champion.

Growing up in a tough neighborhood, Kelly says he knows what temptations are out there, and that's why he opened up South Bronx Boxing Gym on Third Avenue.

Kelly says he wants to make sure youngsters across the city have another outlet besides drugs, gangs and other crime, especially as school is about to let out for the summer.

Kelly plans on opening other gyms in Brooklyn and Florida.