If there is a trip in this life New York In the Big Apple, it is highly recommended to visit Gleason Jim It is unavoidable. This popular gym is located in a densely populated Brooklyn district that no one else visits 137 World ChampionsLike the famous ones Jake LaMotta, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran about Mike Tyson. Not only boxers, but also famous actors dream on this legendary stage Robert De Niro or Wesley SnipesAspired to train like professionals before their fights on the big screen.
A poster adorns the wall Gleason’sAnd the same text is on the back of their T-shirts, the famous phrase of the poet Virgil in the Aeneid: “Now, he that hath courage in his breast, And a firm and serene spirit, Let him come forward, Put on his gloves, and lift up his hands.” Latin epic for the great deeds of its inhabitants. The current owner of this gym has been identified In Dumbo, you can see the iconic Manhattan Bridge from the Brooklyn areaes Bruce SilvergradeExperienced trainer, great knowledge of world boxing and good relations with promoters from all over. He describes the current gloomy scene of New York boxing, but not of American boxing in general.
Gleeson’s Gym facilities, inside.
“I think the reason for the decline of boxing in New York is the financial problem. Gala is very expensive in our city, venues are very expensiveAlso insurance, and boxers don’t want to fight here with big purses because we have high municipal, state and federal taxes that would make anyone suffocate.
The decline of boxing in New York was due to financial problems
Silvergrade, owner of Gleason’s Gym and Emilio Marquigui
In 2024 they will be held only in New York State Twenty-two galasThere are about six hundred in the rest of the United States. But it is not exact, they are steps. “I’ve had tough moments in boxing for a long time, I think it’s cyclical.”. Logically, in parallel, life in New York is prohibitive for many, with overpriced housing and food. “Unfortunately, New York is no longer a boxing city. There is less boxing here, so there is not much incentive for young fighters. But there are temporary reasons that affect youth. “I see a huge difference between the boxing of today and the boxing of a few years ago. Mainly young people don’t want to train hard or understand the basics. They are used to the mobile phone, the computer, where everything is instant and that’s what they expect when they arrive; Start training in a day or two and learn everything quickly. “They’re not prepared and they don’t want to be prepared.”
Loss of interest
Boxing in New York has declined rapidly since it was organized in the 1930s. 900 gales per year, dropping to 100 in the sixties and between 40 and 50 by the end of the 20th century. In 2023, only 16 people were promoted across the state. “But I’m not talking about noble art, I go further. I think the problem with today’s youth is the age of electronic devices. Kids are isolated, they don’t go out, they don’t play in the yard, they don’t play sports, they don’t communicate with other kids. Because they spend so much time on their cell phones. , I think this is reflected in their attitude, they don’t bother with exercise”, Silvergrade tells us.
Gleason’s Gym owner’s office with photos of champions.
Although his vast experience gives us a different kind of optimism. “Boxing has its good and bad moments and I’m positive, I believe things will improve and it will recover in New York. I’m not sure if he’ll reach the heights of his glory years, but we’ll see more boxing here in the short term.”.
Unfortunately, New York is no longer the city of pugilism. There is less boxing here, so there is not much incentive for young fighters
In sports in general and in boxing, even more so, the emergence of greats can revitalize any scenario. If boxers in size S emergeUgar Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta, Benny Leonard or Mike TysonProminent New Yorkers, sure, the revolution was immediate, but it was rare for these monsters to re-emerge anywhere in the world, let alone New York. Other times this fascinating city had amazing stars and a huge fan base.
