THE school lockers gave a tinny reverberation as the fat kid with glasses was shoved into them.

Before he was a boxer and before he was the owner of Griffins Boxing and Fitness in North Vancouver, Dave Brett was a kid who got pushed around in school, when he bothered to go. His time outside the classroom was spent doing what he simply termed: "stupid things."

Brett, 33, has an appreciation for the sweet science that goes far beyond bobbing and weaving and throwing a solid left hook.

"I was a little punk kid," he said. "I found boxing really focused my energy and I was able to get myself out of trouble."

Brett is trying to use boxing to help other kids emerge gracefully from the turbulence of adolescence with An Evening at Ringside, Griffins' sixth annual charity gala, scheduled for June 25 at the JP Fell Armoury.

The fundraiser for Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver is scheduled to feature amateur boxing matches, live music, dinner, drinks, dancing, and silent and live auctions.

"You don't have to be a boxing lover to go," Brett said.

Brett compared the boxing matches at the gala to the dancers at a cabaret, serving as either the centrepiece of the evening or the scenery, depending on how you want to spend the night.

The event raised $5,846 for Big Brothers last year.

Inspired by his mother's three battles with breast cancer, Brett began hosting the annual event six years ago.

After raising money to help combat breast cancer, Brett said he wanted to work with Big Brothers.

Although he wasn't aided by the charity as a young person, he said he understands the importance of those relationships.

"I definitely had a big brother when I was growing up," he said, talking about an older person who looked out for him. "This particular person was massive in my life when I was going through all the stuff that kids go through."

Big Brothers tries to be the catalyst for a change in lifestyle similar to the one Brett experienced.

While he credits boxing for his physical change, he said the novel The Power of One led to a philosophical shift.

"I read this book and it changed my life. I stopped doing stupid stuff, I went back to (high) school," he said, discussing his eventual graduation from the University of B.C.

Wanting to help other people make similar transformations, Brett started teaching the sweet science, eventually opening Griffins.

"I did it all backwards," he said. "I never wanted to be a boxer, per se, I always wanted to teach people and to help people."

After 12 years as an instructor, Brett said he wanted to become a better teacher by learning just what it took to win a match and overcome the fear that coils around a boxer while his gloves are being laced up.

"You get those jitters, I'll tell you, it's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, hands down."

Brett most recently dealt with that stomach-seizing nervousness before a controversial Golden Gloves bout with heavyweight slugger Nik Stevenson last April.

Utilizing skills he acquired over 12 years of coaching and training on the North Shore, Brett built a comfortable lead in the three-round fight. But with fatigue setting in and time running out, he grabbed the younger fighter for the third time and the referee stepped in.

"Two points were taken off on the computer," said Rick Shannon, Stevenson's trainer. "That's when the controversy started."

Two points should have been added to Stevenson's score because of Brett's foul, which occurred with approximately 15 seconds remaining in the fight.

Brett, who was leading by either four or six points before the foul, depending on whose recollection you believe, lost the fight 10-8.

"Maybe there was a mechanical glitch in the computer," Shannon said.

Brett said the fight was marred by simple human error.

"One of the judges had pushed the foul button a couple too many times," he said.

Still, Brett regrets the clinch.

"I was a little bit tired, obviously, and I held the opponent, which obviously you're not supposed to do."

The final score elicited boos and catcalls from the crowd, according to Brett.

"Everyone knew I won. I knew I won, and it's not me being a poor sport, these are just legitimate facts."

After the decision was announced, Brett said he raised Stevenson's hand and opened the ropes for the construction-worker/boxer, demonstrating the sportsmanship he tries to instill in young boxers who use his gym.

While boxers may get scared before a fight, Brett said no one should be nervous while walking into Griffins.

"It's not that scary boxing gym feel," he said, discussing the inclusive nature of his gym.

Griffins is also a good place for kids who need direction, according to Brett.

"We don't teach kids how to say 'yes, sir' and respect others, we teach kids how to respect themselves, and because of that they respect others," he said.

Working with kids who remind him of the difficulties of his teen years has been both tough and rewarding for Brett.

"A couple disappointments," he said. "But there's been a couple kids that have just been amazing."

After weeks of morning sprints and sparring, Brett's rematch with Stevenson was recently cancelled. But despite the setback, the boxer said he's living the life he chose.

"That's what I've always wanted, is to be that coach that's able to help change people's lives," he said. "You don't use boxing to beat the crap out of people, you use boxing to develop as a person."