There’s only really two top class boxing gyms in Ottawa: Beaver Boxing and Fight & Fitness. There are handful of other good spots, but they’re more focused on exercise or Muay Thai. Let’s take a look:
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 Ottawa boxing gyms in the comments at the bottom and I’ll continuously update this page to make it as useful as possible!
The 5 Best Boxing Gyms in Ottawa🥊
1️⃣ Beaver Boxing
- Summary: A boxing gym that has it all. Ottawa’s best.
- Address: 145 Spruce St
- Google rating: 4.6
- Opening hours: M-F: 4-9pm, Sa: 10-2pm
- Pricing: $65 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: beginners, pros, kids, and everyone in between
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Beaver Boxing is THE place to learn and hone your boxing skills in Ottawa.
It’s got it all: electric atmosphere, experienced coaches, rock solid community, large class selection, great facility, free parking!
This place was first set up waaay back in 1943, and since then has been training everyone from first timers to local champions in true boxing technique. Everyone is welcome here, so long as you’re willing to put the work in!
They have up to 8 classes every weekday, including some on Saturday, for adults, kids, cardio training, sparring, and even special sessions for those with disabilities. Love it! Shows that this place has a big heart as well as a passion for the sport.
And at just $65 / month for unlimited classes, it’s awesome value.
Beaver’s is undoubtedly one of the best boxing gyms in Ottawa and my go to place to train when I’m in town. Get on down there!
2️⃣ Fight & Fitness Ottawa
- Summary: a top class mixed combat gym
- Address: 464 Bank St
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: varies day by day, see website for details
- Pricing: $150 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: those looking for some variety in their training
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
You won’t find a bad word said about Fight & Fitness. Seriously, go check out the endless 5-star reviews this gym gets from its legion of loyal members.
Most of the praise is directed at head coach Sacha and his team, who are all extremely professional and knowledgeable, and make sure that everyone feels welcome and cared for in their gym.
This results in an awesome atmosphere that makes people keep coming back for more – despite the workouts that will nearly kill you!
Ottawa Fight & Fitness isn’t quite a pure boxing gym as they have a large Muay Thai component, but they have one or two boxing classes everyday so if you wan’t to stick with just boxing then no problem.
The facility itself is great: it’s large and full of well maintained equipment.
There aren’t many better places in Ottawa to learn how to fight than here.
3️⃣ Phoenix Boxing
- Summary: learn proper boxing skills (but no sparring) at this popular gym
- Address: 321 King Edward Ave
- Google rating: 4.9
- Opening hours: M, W, F: 10am-5pm, T & T: 10am-8:30pm, Sa: 8:30am-3pm
- Pricing: $250 / course
- Best for: beginners and fitness fanatics
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Phoenix Boxing Academy is an unusual but much loved boxing gym.
It trains it students in 8 week batches where each class is strictly limited to just 12 people to make sure that everyone gets enough attention. They do accept some drop ins but only if there’s space. Most people who train here have signed up for an 8 week package.
The focus is fully on boxing technique but bear in mind there is no sparring here. You’ll mainly be focusing on punching bags and pads, never an actual person.
It’s run by Chris and his team who are all fantastic coaches and will put you through your paces while ensuring you’re learning proper boxing skills. They somehow manage to make sure every class is varied and challenging.
Phoenix would be a great place if you’re just getting started in boxing and want to learn the ropes while getting some great fitness in.
4️⃣ Gracie Barra
- Summary: a much loved Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu
- Address: 250 City Centre Ave Unit 128
- Google rating: 4.8
- Opening hours: x
- Pricing: x
- Best for: boxers wanting to try other combat sports
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Gracie Barra’s isn’t actually a boxing gym, they mainly train Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu (with a small handful of boxing classes).
But I’ve included it on this list because it’s still a great place to learn how to fight and, frankly, because there just aren’t that many other options here in Ottawa.
I’ve done plenty of Muay Thai training myself and it’s a solid replacement for boxing if you can’t find a good boxing gym near you. There’s lots of overlap (and some things you’ll have to unlearn!), and it’s satisfying to expand your fighting skill set.
Gracie Barra has tons of classes everyday to choose from, including special classes for women and kids. And each class is taught by a highly experienced coach and in a friendly, no-ego, environment.
Everyone who trains at Gracie Barra’s loves the place so they must be doing something right.
5️⃣ The Rig
- Summary: high end boxercise studio. Think flashing lights and loud music.
- Address: 1480B Scott St & 22 Ceasar Avenu
- Google rating: 4.9
- Opening hours: M-F: 6am – 7pm, Sa: 7am-noon, Su: 9am-noon
- Pricing: $144 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: beginners and fitness fanatics
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Ok so The Rig isn’t really a boxing gym. It’s a fitness center loosely inspired by boxing. But I’ve included it here because I know that not everyone is looking for combat boxing, and this could be a good place to get started with throwing a few punches.
If you’re after a killer workout in a dark room with flashing lights and loud music, then The Rig is for you. It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s full of yummy mummies. But know that the only thing you’ll be hitting here is the bag.
They have two locations in Ottawa to choose from, one in Mechanicsville and the other in Nepean. And they hold many classes everyday, including on the weekends, so it shouldn’t be hard to find something that fits your schedule.
You can buy monthly packages that enable you to come to a certain number of classes, or you can pay as you go (but it’s more expensive that way).
Related articles:
How to pick a Ottawa 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 – this is key. 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 Ottawa cost? 💰
- Monthly memberships: Expect to pay between $60-$150 / month depending on the gym and contract type. Some places offer unlimited classes to their members. Be sure to check for this.
- One-on-one personal training: Depending on the gym, costs are around $40 per hour as a minimum.
- Drop-in boxing classes for non-members: this is usually $15-20 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 🔔
It’s a shame that Ottawa doesn’t have more pure boxing gyms, but with the likes of Beaver Boxing and Fight & Fitness, there are at least some options here for you to learn the proper sport. The city is crying out for more though – why don’t you open one…?
Happy fighting! 🥊🥊
“Boxing’s not that straightforward. You can practice and practice, but the real experience will always be different. Lots of things are like that, actually.”
Franny Billingsley
