Detroit, MI-Although legendaty heavyweight champion Joe Louis, is from the city of Detroit, boxing in Motown, for the past quarter century anyway, has been all about the Kronk Gym. Opened circa 1970 by a 1964 AAU boxing champion, and current HBO analyst Emanuel “The Goldfather” Steward, Kronk, as everybody knows it, was the sweat shop that brought us champions Tommy Hearns, Hilmer Kenty, Jimmy Paul, Duane Thomas, and a plethora of fighters, too many to list.
GOLDFATHER MADE HIS “BONES” IN WAR ZONE!, Imagine Iraq, after a suicide bomber has just struck. Buildings are splintered, tattered, and falling down. That best describes the area surrounding the Kronk Community Center. Like a beacon in the night, this lonely looking building stands alone. But, each and every day, the place comes alive in the AM. With classes, recreation, after school activities, all happening above ground, underground, or in the basement, there is the Kronk Boxing Gym.
EMANUEL ALWAYS HAS THE HEAT ON HIGH!
On one occasion, it was 39 outside. Emanuel, myself, and world-renowned artist, Richard Slone, we walked from the car to the front door of the gym. It was the coldest 25 steps Ive ever taken! Once inside, the upstairs temperature was about 75. But, when you got downstairs, the heat was turned up so high, that it topped 85! Needless to say, summer or fall, its not hard losing weight at Kronk.
CITY IS PULLING THE PLUG!
The city of Detroit, like the rest of the country, is broke. Forget the $300 billion spent on Iraq thus far. Or the food stamp programs cut for the poor last week, the truth is just about every social program the Republicans can get their hands on, they kill! So, when Motown started looking for ways to save a buck, the idea of closing the Kronk Community Center was brought up. As of today, the city has privately indicated they are closing, what amounts to a Detroit landmark. A public announcement is said to be soon forthcoming.
Pedro Fernandez
Note: Mr. Fernandez is an award-winning writer, talk show host, and four-time Golden Gloves champion.