Kronk Gym
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Kronk Gym is a
Named after Detroit City Councilman John Kronk, the training facility opened in 1921.[3] The original site closed in 2006, but it reopened in 2015.[4]
History
Original Detroit gym
Kronk began to earn fame during the late 1970s, when prospects like
In the 1990s the Kronk stable included two-time WBA welterweight champion Mark Breland, top amateur prospect and future contender Tarick Salmaci, and repeat welterweight contender Oba Carr.
Among the many world champions who trained at Kronk at least once during their careers are Michael Moorer, Wilfred Benítez (in the Tucson gym), Héctor Camacho, Julio César Chávez, Naseem Hamed, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Jermain Taylor and Tyson Fury.
Tucson gym
Kronk opened a second gym in Tucson, Arizona during the 1990s. A new host of fighters who would later become world champions arrived there, including Gerald McClellan. The Kronk "franchise" began to sell Kronk merchandise through catalog sales.
In 1998 Kronk opened Kronk Gym website, promoting the gyms and their fighters.
Detroit gym closure
In September 2006, the original gym at 5555 McGraw Avenue between 33rd and Junction Streets in Detroit closed temporarily after thieves stole copper water pipes, cutting off supply to the building. Boxers relocated to a Dearborn Gold's Gym. A "Save the Kronk" campaign aimed at keeping the facilities from closing due to budget shortfall was spearheaded by Emanuel Steward. The campaign would ultimately work toward building a new Kronk.
The gym and recreation center was officially closed by the Recreation Department on November 28, 2006 due to the prohibitive cost of repairs to the plumbing and building infrastructure.[6]
In the past few years, the Detroit gym relocated to a new facility in a storefront on West Warren Avenue.
On October 7, 2017, the original Kronk Gym went up in flames in a suspicious fire. The roof was destroyed and the basement gym was heavily damaged.[7]
Reopening
The new facility opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2015 at 9520 Mettetal St.[8]
On August 20, 2020, during the
References
- ^ FOX (2012-10-25). "Legendary boxing trainer Steward dies". Foxsports.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ^ Tom Timmermann (2011-01-28). "Detroit's Kronk Gym was a cradle of boxing champions". STLToday.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ^ Gross, Allie (13 September 2018). "Detroit's old Kronk boxing gym being demolished after 2017 fire". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
- ^ Brudenell, Mike (20 May 2015). "Kronk Gym scheduled to reopen Monday". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ AIBA rankings 1984, CLIPPED FROM Detroit Free Press, 14 Feb 1984, Tue, page 42
- ^ "City of Detroit | Detroit Free Press". freep.com. 2006-11-29. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
- ^ "World Famous Kronk Gym Destroyed in Suspicious Fire; Motor City Muckraker". motorcitymuckraker.com. 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
- ^ FOX. "FOX 2 Detroit News, Weather, Sports | WJBK". Myfoxdetroit.com. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
- ^ Erdman, Corey (August 31, 2020). ""Boxing Academic" Shishkin Closes In On Super Middleweight Title Fight". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
External links
- Kronkgym.com official website.
- Inside the abandoned Kronk Gym at Detroiturbex.com
- Detroit's Legendary Kronk Gym: Down for the Count
- Boxing's Most Famous Gyms 1980 Manny Steward kronk gym held the 15 years and younger Silver gloves jr Olympics,Micky Goodwyn,Milton Mccrory,Hilmer Kentay,And Duane Johnson All world champions helped host the event. Roosevelt McKinley trainer with AnnArbor /