Gleason's Gym
Gleason's is a boxing gym located on the Brooklyn waterfront. The gym was founded by Peter Gagliardi, a former bantamweight, who changed his name to Bobby Gleason. It moved to Manhattan and then to Brooklyn. Gleason's is now owned by Bruce Silverglade.[1]
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 forward, lace on the gloves and put up his hands." (Aeneid 5.363-364) Prizefighters have long answered this call at Gleason's and some still do.[2]
There is an illustrated book called At Gleason's Gym.[3] Owner Bruce Silverglade and Gleason's trainer Hector Roca co-authored the book The Gleason's Gym: Total Body Boxing Workout for Women, with a foreword by actor Hilary Swank (she famously thanked Hector Roca when she received her Oscar for her role in the boxing movie "Million Dollar Baby").[4] There is a book called White Collar Boxing: One Man's Journey from the Office to the Ring, in which John E. Oden describes Gleason's Gym in Chapter 6.[5]
In 2015, part of episode 18, season 4, of the television comedy show "Impractical Jokers" took place at the gym.
The Season 11 premiere of Ink Master filmed the gym which was used as the location where 22 artists competed to earn a spot on Team Cleen or Team Christian by tattooing a subject in one of the coaches' specialties for six hours.
Gleason's Gym embraces the trans community by hosting the Trans Boxing club led by coach Nolan Hanson.[6] Gym owner Bruce Silverglade emphasizes inclusivity by creating a supportive environment that allows trans and nonbinary individuals to engage in boxing, fostering community, empowerment, and visibility within the sport.
On August 21, 2024, a street sign was dedicated to Gleason's Gym. The corner of Water and Adams streets was officially named "Gleason's Gym Way" during a special ceremony held that day.[7][8][9][10]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Gentleman Boxer". Village Voice. 2008-11-25.
- ^ ""And in this Corner the Insurance Broker"". Wall Street Journal, Aug. 21, 2002 (retrieved from author's website). Archived from the original on 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
- ^ At Gleason's Gym, Ted Lewin. 2007. ISBN 978-1-59643-231-4, ISBN 1-59643-231-4. Published by: Roring Book Press, New Mildford, Connecticut. United States.
- ^ Hector Roca & Bruce Silverglade, The Gleason's Gym: Total Body Boxing Workout for Women. 2006. ISBN 978-0-7432-8687-9. Published by: Fireside (Simon & Schuster, Inc.), New York, NY.
- ^ John E. Oden, White Collar Boxing: One Man's Journey from the Office to the Ring. 2005. ISBN 1-57826-207-0. Published by: Hatherleigh Press, Long Island City, New York. United States.
- ^ Anbouba, Margaux (June 29, 2024). "Punching Up: Meet Trans Boxing, a Class in Brooklyn for All". Vogue. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ "NYC's oldest boxing gym, where Robert De Niro trained for 'Raging Bull,' keeps punching up its profile". New York Post. September 5, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ "Brooklyn's famous Gleason's Gym celebrates street co-naming". Brooklyn Eagle. August 22, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
- ^ "Gleason's Gym gets co-naming on corner in DUMBO". Brooklyn Paper. August 22, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
- ^ "Gleason's Gym street co-naming in Brooklyn". The Ring. August 22, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-22.