Jamillia Lawrence was not always on the right path.
"Bad habits and lack of discipline" could have been her downfall, until she found the Atlantic City PAL and an attitude-altering mentor.
"Thank you, Atlantic City PAL. B.J. — Bill Johnson — for being a safe haven and showing me another path through boxing," she said. " That sweet science changed my life and I'm forever grateful."
Lawrence made history Saturday as she became the first woman inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame.
She thanked her parents for bringing home books that "expanded my mind, teaching me to flow and strive for greatness."
Lawrence's wife, Tiffany, was there cheering her on, as she gave a shoutout to the LGBTQ+ community, "or should I say, the Alphabet Squad."
She spoke of the special meaning being in the seventh induction class meant, since seven "is the number of the divine feminine. It embodies strength and grace."
"Let us also raise a toast to the indomitable spirit of female athletes worldwide," she said. "Our journey may be marked with challenges, but it's our resilience and steadfast determination that propels us to greater heights.
"Women in sports embodies vigor, grace and unwavering strength," she added. "Let us continue to break barriers, shatter ceilings and pave the way for future generations."
Lawrence also gave thanks to Bill Johnson's son, "the late, great Leavander Johnson," who died after suffering a brain injury in a 2005 fight in Las Vegas.
"I miss you so much, man," she said. "You elevated my game and kept me standing and told me to aim high."
Johnson's and his brother's love of boxing is what sparked Bill Johnson training Atlantic City's youth at the PAL.
He was among the early inductees into the city's Hall of Fame, created in 2014 to honor the legacy of boxing in Atlantic City, and those who have heralded its success, from promoters and managers to coaches and boxers.
The hall honors Leavander Johnson's memory with the Community Service Award, which was presented to was presented to DeShawn Ward, who started the Stay Hungry basketball tournament that brought together all neighborhoods to play the game together.
