Eddie Murphy credits his stepfather with teaching him how to box. "EDDIE MURPHY's stepfather turned the family basement into a makeshift boxing ring so he could discipline his teenage kids. The SHREK star credits VERNON LYNCH with teaching him discipline - and the funnyman always accepted his fate when he was told to put the gloves on. He says, "My stepdad boxed so I grew up around the gym. "There might have been some disciplining with the gloves on... My father was like, 'You did what? Well, go in the house and put the gloves on.' "When you get too big the get a whipping - when you get 16, 17 and you can't get a regular whipping no more - you gotta go put the gloves on." {Source}