Gleason's Gym
Encyclopedia
Gleason's is a boxing
gym located on the Brooklyn
waterfront. Since 1937, when the gym was founded in the Bronx
, boxers with their eyes on Olympic
glory or a shot at the title have been training at Gleason's. Fighters who trained at the gym include Jake LaMotta
, Roberto Durán
, Benny "Kid" Paret
, Gerry Cooney
, and Mike Tyson
. Before his first title fight against Sonny Liston
, Muhammad Ali
, then known as Cassius Clay, also trained at Gleason's.
The gym was founded by Peter Gagliardi, a former welterweight
, who changed his name to Bobby Gleason. It moved to Manhattan
and then to Brooklyn. Gleason's is now owned by Bruce Silverglade.
Gleason's is reminiscent of the time when New York was the center of the boxing universe, when there were dozens of serious gyms in the city and when big fights were often held in Madison Square Garden
. Now Gleason's is among the last of a breed. It manages to stay open by permitting average joes—men and women—to train side by side with professional boxers, and stages "White Collar Boxing
" events that cater to this clientele.
There is also a wrestling school called the World of Unpredictable Wrestling run by WWE Hall of Fame
member Johnny Rodz
. Many wrestlers and wrestling promoters have come from there. Graduates include Tommy Dreamer
, Matt Striker, Taz, D-Von Dudley and Vince Russo
, Prince Nana
, as well as Big Vito, Da Baldies, Elektra, Ricky Vega, The Musketeer, Mac Daddy Flexx, Tim Arson, Damien Demento, the late S.D. Jones, the late Rocco Rock, and many more.
There is a sign on the wall at Gleason's, posting an invitation from the poet Virgil: "Now whoever has courage, and a strong and collected spirit in his breast, let him come forth, lace up his gloves, and put up his hands." Prizefighters have long answered this call at Gleason's and some still do. But now they've been joined by brokers and dentists.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
gym located on the Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
waterfront. Since 1937, when the gym was founded in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, boxers with their eyes on Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
glory or a shot at the title have been training at Gleason's. Fighters who trained at the gym include Jake LaMotta
Jake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
, Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
, Benny "Kid" Paret
Benny Paret
Benny "the Kid" Paret, born Bernardo Paret , born in Santa Clara, Cuba, was a Cuban welterweight boxer. Paret won the world welterweight title twice in the early 1960s and died in 1962 following an unsuccessful attempt to defend the crown in what is considered to be the first ring death witnessed...
, Gerry Cooney
Gerry Cooney
Gerry Cooney is a retired Irish-American professional boxer from Huntington, New York best known for his loss to Larry Holmes and defeat of aging ex-champion/contender Ken Norton.-Life before boxing:...
, and Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
. Before his first title fight against Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
, Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, then known as Cassius Clay, also trained at Gleason's.
The gym was founded by Peter Gagliardi, a former welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
, who changed his name to Bobby Gleason. It moved to Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and then to Brooklyn. Gleason's is now owned by Bruce Silverglade.
Gleason's is reminiscent of the time when New York was the center of the boxing universe, when there were dozens of serious gyms in the city and when big fights were often held in Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. Now Gleason's is among the last of a breed. It manages to stay open by permitting average joes—men and women—to train side by side with professional boxers, and stages "White Collar Boxing
White Collar Boxing
White Collar Boxing is a form of boxing where men and women in white collar professions train to fight at special events. Most have no previous experience of boxing.-US origins of the sport:The sport first came to prominence in mid-1990s New York...
" events that cater to this clientele.
There is also a wrestling school called the World of Unpredictable Wrestling run by WWE Hall of Fame
WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestlers maintained by WWE. It was officially created on the February 1, 1993 episode of the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw television program...
member Johnny Rodz
Johnny Rodz
Johnny Rodriguez is a retired American professional wrestler. He has previously worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Rodz.-World Wide Wrestling Federation:...
. Many wrestlers and wrestling promoters have come from there. Graduates include Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
, Matt Striker, Taz, D-Von Dudley and Vince Russo
Vince Russo
Vincent James "Vince" Russo is an American creative writer and author, well known for his work in the professional wrestling industry. He is notable for his tenure with World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, Prince Nana
Prince Nana
Prince Nana Osei Bandoh is an American professional wrestler of Ghanaian extraction, better known by his ring name, Prince Nana. He has stated that he is an Ashanti prince.-Professional wrestling career:...
, as well as Big Vito, Da Baldies, Elektra, Ricky Vega, The Musketeer, Mac Daddy Flexx, Tim Arson, Damien Demento, the late S.D. Jones, the late Rocco Rock, and many more.
There is a sign on the wall at Gleason's, posting an invitation from the poet Virgil: "Now whoever has courage, and a strong and collected spirit in his breast, let him come forth, lace up his gloves, and put up his hands." Prizefighters have long answered this call at Gleason's and some still do. But now they've been joined by brokers and dentists.