There aren’t many places you can get coached in a community center by a man who knocked down Mike Tyson. But here you can. Columbus is home to a handful of top quality boxing gyms. So, if you’re looking to train here, you’re in luck.
Let’s dive in…
My preference is always for those rare, pure, old school boxing gyms, free of ego, and full of passion for the sport. But sometimes I include the odd boxercise place because I know that not everyone wants the nitty gritty of actual combat.
Why listen to me: I’ve been boxing as an amateur for 6 years and trained in countless boxing gyms around the world from Seattle to Spain. I’ve learnt that picking the right gym can literally change your life and want to help you do the same. Learn more about me here.
PLEASE leave your own opinions and experiences about Columbus boxing gyms in the comments at the bottom and I’ll continuously update this page to make it as useful as possible!
The 7 Best Boxing Gyms in Columbus🥊
1️⃣ Pilger’s Old Skool Boxing & Fitness
- Summary: Exactly how boxing gyms should be. Old school, great vibe, no egos.
- Address: 1034 Goodale Blvd (Grandview)
- Google rating: 4.7
- Opening hours: M,W,F: 6am-8pm, T & T: 4-8pm, Sa: 10am-12pm
- Pricing: $150 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: beginners, pros, and everyone in between
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
As the name suggests, this place is proper old school.
The walls are covered in boxing memorabilia and trophies overflow off shelves. Pilger’s is right out of a Rocky movie. It’s exactly how a boxing gym should be. Nothing fancy, but full of passion for the sport.
Owner Rob is not only an expert coach but a very friendly person who has cultivated a respectful, welcoming, supportive atmosphere in the gym.
No matter if it’s your first time in a boxing gym, or you’re training for the heavyweight title, Rob and his team will treat you with care and attention.
Memberships allow for unlimited classes and they offer up to 6 every weekday for you to choose from, as well as Saturday morning. Classes focus on real boxing technique and will give you one hell of a workout while you’re at it. One on one coaching also available.
It’s impossible to find a bad word said about Pilger’s. No doubt one of the best boxing gyms in Columbus. Get there now!
2️⃣ Southpaw Boxing Gym
- Summary: Great value. Very welcoming. Pure boxing. Highly recommended.
- Address: 4920 Scioto Darby Rd (Hilliard)
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: Daily
- Pricing: $75 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: fun loving bargain hunters
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Only praise for Southpaw Boxing Gym.
The environment here is super friendly, the workouts are nuts, and the coaches are top class. “My home away from home! I love my boxing family!” – as one member describes it.
Owner and Head Coach Eric has been competing as a pro or coaching for over 30 years. He and his team really know what they are doing when it comes to authentic boxing coaching. A boxercise studio this definitely is not. This is real deal boxing training where you can work on anything from the heavy bag to sparring.
Also, at just $75/month for membership, you wont find any better value boxing gyms in Columbus. They offer family packages too and drop in classes for just $15 a class. Awesome boxing gym, well worth a visit.
3️⃣ Neighborhood Boxing Club
- Summary: Top quality, much loved boxing technique and fitness classes.
- Address: 6124 Busch Blvd Suite E (Busch)
- Google rating: 4.9
- Opening hours: 7 days a week, varies day to day
- Pricing: $25 / week (unlimited classes)
- Best for: beginners
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Neighborhood Boxing Club has over 200 5-star reviews on Google.
They are clearly doing something very right here. Most of the praise is directed at the intensity of the classes and the supportive, motivational coaches who make sure everyone is getting the attention they need to improve their technique.
They run 4 or 5 1-hour classes every weekday and a handful of classes on Saturday and Sunday mornings too. The classes focus primarily on fitness and technique rather than contact, so if you’re looking to train for a competition then this may not be quite the right place for you.
They have very flexible membership options, including weekly memberships (with no contract) or you can get longer memberships with a discount, or buy class packages. And with no fewer than 59 heavy bags, the facility is massive, meaning there is plenty of space.
What I like most about this place is that their customer service is clearly top notch. They even have a very user friendly app which includes a clear list of classes, times, and trainers.
4️⃣ Thompson Community Center
- Summary: Get coached by a former world champ at a Community Center
- Address: 1189 Dennison Ave (Grandview)
- Google rating: 4.4
- Opening hours: T-F: 12-8:30pm, Sa: 9:30am-5pm
- Pricing: $15 / class
- Best for: kids and fans of boxing legends
- Online: website
You might think that a community center wouldn’t be the best place to get boxing coaching. You’d be wrong.
The coach at Thompson Center is the one and only James “Buster” Douglas, former world heavyweight champion who famously defeated Mike Tyson. Seriously, you can rock up to this community center and get trained by a world champ. Pretty awesome.
Coach Douglas is a huge hit with the kids he trains, with one saying “I mean, I really look up to Mike Tyson, but I don’t look up to him as much as Coach,”!
Thompson Community center offer boxing classes five days a week (Tuesday – Saturday) and there are no contracts needed. It is pay as you go for just $15 a class. Given the coach, it’s proper boxing training here, but as it’s a community center it’s also very welcoming and friendly. Classes are for anyone, any age, any skill.
An unexpected gem. Check it out.
5️⃣ Ronin Training Center
- Summary: Very highly regarded mixed combat sports gym
- Address: 1012 W 3rd Ave (Grandview)
- Google rating: 4.7
- Opening hours: M, W & F: 8am-8:30pm, T & T: 7am-8:30pm, Sa: 9am-1pm, Su: 10am-1pm
- Pricing: n.a.
- Best for: those after mixed combat training
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Ronin is a combat sports gym that offers classes in boxing, BJJ, Muay Thai, Judo, and Krav Maga. Most of the classes on offer are BJJ and Muay Thai but it does have 3 or 4 boxing classes a week to choose from, so it’s certainly worthy of this list.
The instructors here are all professional athletes at the top of their game and the whole place is managed very professionally. Its members speak very highly of the quality and variation of the classes, and the atmosphere in the gym which is welcoming for people of all ages and abilities.
You can get a free week to trial all the different classes before signing up for a paid plan (they are pretty secretive about their prices though).
The facility itself is clean, very spacious and modern. They also offer plenty of kids classes, so if you’re looking for somewhere for your little ones then this could be the place for you.
The only reason that Ronin doesn’t score a 10/10 is that it doesn’t have more boxing classes. Otherwise, it’s top class.
6️⃣ Punch Fitness
- Summary: Top quality boxercise fitness gym
- Address: 50 Westerview Dr (Westerville)
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M-T: 5:30-11am & 3pm-8pm, F: 5:30-11am, Sa: 8am-12pm
- Pricing: $15/class
- Best for: fitness fanatics
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Everyone who trains with Corey at Punch Fitness comes away feeling like an absolute boss. He’ll work you seriously hard and make sure you achieve your personal fitness goals.
As the name implies, Punch Fitness is a fitness gym rather than a pure boxing gym. However, many of the classes offered do focus on combing cardio with boxing technique so you will be able to work on landing proper punches. 1-on-1 training is also available if you’re looking for that extra attention.
His signature hip hop boxing classes are particularly popular! This is what happens when Tupac meets Tyson, and it works. If you’re looking for a fun high quality workout centered around learning to punch then Corey is your man.
7️⃣ Title Boxing Club
- Summary: Very popular boxercise franchise
- Address: Powell, Grandview, Polaris, Westerville, Pickerington
- Google rating: 4.8
- Opening hours: varies by location, see websites for specifics
- Pricing: $139 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: fitness fanatics and beginners
- Online: website, Instagram
At Title Boxing Club, the focus is on cardio rather than boxing technique, making it more of a fitness gym than a traditional boxing facility. Although they do offer tips on proper punching technique, the heavy bag is the main target, and there is no sparring work.
However, their workouts are certainly fun, varied, high energy, and motivating, and with over 100 locations nationwide, you can expect top-quality staff and equipment.
If you prefer to avoid actual combat training, Title Boxing Club could be a great option for you.
They offer a wide range of classes, available seven days a week, from morning till night. And there are no fewer than 5 Title Boxing gyms in Columbus for you to choose from.
Related articles
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Chicago
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Pittsburgh
- Boxing Classes for Beginners (What to expect)
How to pick a Columbus boxing gym❓
- Coaches – an experienced, motivating coach makes all the difference. Not just when it comes to improving your technique but also in encouraging you to keep coming back time and time again. Becoming a good boxer takes a long time and so it’s important you find a coach that you click with if this is something you want to do for many years. Reviews will often focus on coaches so try looking for those for some insights.
- Convenience of location and class timings – for me this is so important. My boxing gym is on the same block as my home so I have no excuse not to go almost everyday, even if I’m not feeling up to it. Finding a gym that’s close to home or work will make your life much easier and help to make going to boxing training a habit. The same applies to class timings, if you have to massively disrupt your day to get to a class because it doesn’t fit your schedule then you’re going to be less likely to go.
- Gym focus – I don’t have a problem with boxercise classes, but make sure you know what you’re signing up for if you join one of these. Boxercise is very different than actually learning how to fight and getting sparring experience. If you truly want to learn how to box then you need to box. That involves punching other people and getting punched yourself.
- Trial class – most boxing gyms will allow you to have a free trial class so you can get a feel for the place before you sign up. This is a great way of evaluating whether you like the coach, the energy, and the focus of the gym. Always worth asking for a free trial class if you’re not sure whether it’s offered.
How much do boxing gyms in Columbus cost? 💰
- Monthly memberships: ~$100-150 per month. Most places offer unlimited classes to their members. Be sure to check for this.
- One-on-one personal training: This can vary a lot but expect to pay around $50 per hour as a minimum.
- Drop-in boxing classes for non-members: ~$15-$25 per class
- Initiation fee: not all places make you pay one of these (and I’m not a fan of it) but those that do usually charge a one-off fee of $50-$100
12th Round 🔔
I was pleasantly surprised by the boxing gyms available in Columbus. You’ve got some classic old school gyms like Pilger’s and Southpaw and, of course, the opportunity to learn from the friendly giant, former heavyweight champ, James “Buster” Douglas.
Happy fighting!🥊🥊
“To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by himself is a tragedy.” — Cus D’Amato
