THUMPYARD

champions of circumstance

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For the De La Cruz family, boxing is tradition. It’s the hand that pulls them up when they’ve been knocked down. When a tragic accident took boxing away from Jonathan De La Cruz, he created the Thumpyard to get it back. The result is a backyard boxing club that encourages people to leave street violence where it belongs and release it all in the ring. This is the story of how boxing helps a community fight their inner battles to grow stronger together.

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"I DONT RUN

                 EITHER YOU KILL ME

OR I KILL YOU"

Gloves not guns: this simple phrase echoes throughout the Thumpyard. At the heart of the organization is Jonathan De La Cruz. In 2005, he was a victim of gun violence but rather than lay down and die, he chose to fight. He persevered and used his love of boxing to show that you can be better despite your situation.

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"People
Like
my
fights"

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​The De La Cruz family lives like any other in the suburbs of Maryland. They have jobs, children, barbecues, and problems of their own. What sets them apart is how they face almost insurmountable odds. Wilfredo, Jonathan, and Rigo: father and sons who stick together through tragedy and triumph. A family forged by love, strength, and boxing, the De La Cruz legacy is sheer iron will.

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"we came here to thump"

Thumpyard: Champions of circumstance, premiered december 2nd 2021 at landmarks e st. cinema in washington, dc.

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premiere event coverage by shimmer wali

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In the Thumpyard, everyone has a reason to fight. Some fight for family, others for a better life. But if you step in that ring, you better not quit.