Lenox Athletic Club
The club (at 135th Street and Lenox Avenue) is a small, members-only boxing gym catering to professionals and serious amateurs seeking a good environment for intense training and fight preparation. A small bar and restaurant (open only to members and special guests) is attached to the gym. The well-maintained and fashionable club features a reception, dining area, and bar with dark mahogany wood polished to a shine. Its gaslight fixtures are artfully modified to accommodate electric lighting. The building’s lower level houses the boxing gym. The locker rooms are clean and staffed. Each club member has their own locker, with an assigned keyed lock; the attendant takes the key when the member leaves the locker room.
The gym lacks the aesthetics of the bar, as it is designed for functionality. Areas for shadow boxing, heavy bag work, and other aspects of the sport are situated around a 16 foot (4.8 m) sparring ring. In all, the space is small, but carefully arranged so as not to be overcrowded. It’s noisy and busy, with a number of fighters working out at the various stations. Some have dedicated trainers working one-on-one with them (professional fighters preparing for upcoming fights), while others (amateurs) train in groups.
The integrated club is largely operated by white managers with an all-black staff.
Type
Gym
Parent Location
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