Over the last ten years the local boxing scene has been in the doldrums as Mixed Martial Arts has overshadowed the sweet science. But boxing has been making a comeback in the Seattle area as is evidenced by a number of active professional boxers who have been honing their skills at the Seattle Boxing Gym. Names like, Eddie Hunter, Mike Gavronski, Rob Diezel, Vince Thompson, Walter Wright, Doc Baron, Kevin Strouthers, and Marquise Weston have been gathering at this local gym with hopes of hitting the big time.
Middleweight Eddie Hunter scored a major upset last month when he slapped around undefeated Floyd Mayweather protégée Danell Bellows at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton and he has been getting ready to take on Ronnald Hearns, the son of the great Tommy Hearns this Friday at the Little Creek casino in Shelton. Undefeated Mike Gavronski, 14-0-1 just knocked out Memphis, Tennesee’s Tristan Todd in what many are calling the fight of the year. Gavronski suffered a broken jaw in the first round of a grueling fight and rallied to knock out Todd in the eighth round of a torrid affair.
Thompson, Diezel, Wright and Weston should all see action in the coming months as enthusiasm in running high in the neighborhood. Professional trainers, Noe Ramirez, Martin O’Malley, Sam Dutusa and Bob Jarvis can be seen tutoring the finer points to their charges at 1432 Broadway in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Jarvis, the former owner and operator of the Hilman City Boxing Gym says that, “this is one of the nicest gyms in the country, it has high ceilings and lots of floor space and a great atmosphere and it is rapidly becoming a home for several professionals and a garage full of amateurs.”
Richard Druliner and Russell Crandall run the amateur program and both are active amateur boxers. Crandall flew back to New York City last month to take on the United States Coast Guard champion and in November he beat a Tacoma Boxing Club fighter at Emerald Queen Casino. Druliner is particularly impressed with 140 pound, 18 year old Tengisbold Khurelbataar, a student at Seattle Central and a native of Mongolia. According to Druliner this kid boxes daily with several of the pros and looks to make some noise in the coming months. Other amateurs of note are Heavyweight Kevin Roberson, who just scored a one punch knockout last month in Tacoma. In addition the gym has welterweight Nik Vasquez fighting in both the Washington and Oregon State Golden Glove tournaments next month, he took 2nd place in last year’s Washington tournament.
Personal trainers are available for individual or group lessons and young men and women are encouraged to come in and try out for amateur boxing. Boxing is available at this gym for either recreation or competition so if you are looking to get back into shape there is no better workout out than three rounds on a heavy bag, three rounds of jumping rope, three rounds of shadowboxing and a few rounds of sparring and all are available at the Seattle Boxing club, one of the best gyms in the country. The Seattle Boxing a Gym is located at 1432 Broadway and is open seven days a week and for more information call 206-658-3114.
