Umar

THE BOXER stood in the middle of the ring, snapping out left jabs. Occasionally, he would cross with his right hand, pivoting on his right foot as he did so to get extra power in the punch. Then he would fire off a left hook and uppercut. He shadow-boxed in a ring on the second floor of a building in the 1500 block of N. Fulton St., deep in the heart of West Baltimore. He presented a stark contrast to what was happening on the first floor, where a cluster of youngsters, elementary- and middle school-aged, hovered around 19 computers, studying, researching and being tutored in reading or math.

Father and son spar happily in a ring that glows in the late afternoon sun like the dream of a title fight in Las Vegas.Eight-year-old Tavon Sol, looking like a chunky spaceman in his protective headgear and midriff guard, whacks away at his dad, Tyrone, with more enthusiasm than skill. But he's learning. Tyrone Sol was an amateur middleweight when he was 20 years younger and 20 pounds lighter. He keeps up a constant chatter while brushing away Tavon's fat training gloves."Now you got to cut me off. Work!

A 15-year-old Westminster boy was being held without bail in the county detention center yesterday, charged as an adult in the shooting of a Baltimore County man Tuesday night.Westminster police said Umar Abdul-Basir of the first block of Hook Road was arrested at his home. He is charged with assault with intent to murder, use of a handgun in a felony, maiming with intent to disfigure, and assault and battery.Michael Corprew, 20, of the 2800 block of Diamond Ridge Road in Woodlawn was taken to Carroll County General Hospital by friends after the 10:30 p.m. shooting, police said.