Brooklyn is home to some world class authentic boxing gyms. You’ve got Gleasons, you’ve got Ardon’s, you’ve got Church Street, and many others to chose from. 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. Picking the right gym can literally change your life and want to help you do just that. Learn more.
PLEASE leave your own opinions and experiences about Brooklyn boxing gyms in the comments and I’ll continuously update this page to make it as useful as possible!
The 8 Best Boxing Gyms in Brooklyn🥊
1️⃣ Gleason’s Gym
- Summary: the world famous gym is as old school and passionate as it gets
- Address: 130 Water St
- Google rating: 4.6
- Opening hours: M-F: 5am-10pm, S-S: 6am-6pm
- Pricing: $120 / month plus any one on one training
- Best for: passionate boxers wanting to take their training to the top
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Gleason’s is probably one of the most historic boxing gyms in the world, let alone Brooklyn.
It’s trained the who’s who of boxing royalty since it opened its doors way back in 1937, including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Forman, Mike Tyson and many other legends of the sport.
Nowhere has seen more champions grace its ring than Gleason’s.
So, obviously, this is a place that takes its boxing seriously. That doesn’t mean it’s not open to beginners, it certainly is, just so long as you’re committed to learning the true art of the sport and will put the work in.
Unlike most other boxing gyms, Gleason’s doesn’t offer classes. Instead you can come in and train yourself on the equipment, or work one on one with the several literal-world class trainers who work out of the gym.
They also cater for kids, those with Parkisons, the neurodiverse, and veterans.
Gleason’s, and everyone in it, lives and breathes boxing. If you wan’t to train with the best, and walk – or should I say punch – in the footsteps of the best, then Gleason’s is the only option for you.
I’d honestly give my left nut to train here regularly…
2️⃣ Ardon Sweet Science Gym
- Summary: an old school gym with a passionate but super friendly atmosphere
- Address: 861 4th Ave 2nd Floor
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M-T: 7am-9pm, F: 7am-7pm, Sa: 12-3pm
- Pricing: $250 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: kids, pros, and everyone in between
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Ardon is another old school gym with nothing fancy about it but which takes its training seriously.
What I love about these sorts of places is that you can tell the second you step into the gym is that their priority isn’t to make money. It’s to teach people the sport they love and help improve the lives of their members.
This means that the community and atmosphere are rock solid because everyone is there for the shared passion of the sport.
Ardon was founded back in 2005 by pro fighter Greg Ardon who’s an extremely popular figure. Kind. Knowledgeable. Caring. Exactly the sort of qualities you want from a coach.
Ardon is welcoming of fighters of all ages and abilities, and also teaches some Muay Thai and BJJ as well as boxing, in case you want to mix up your training a little.
They hold classes throughout the day. Take a look at their website for specifics. Note there is no “open gym” but you can get one on one training if you like.
Highly recommended. An easy contender for one of Brooklyn’s best boxing gyms.
3️⃣ Church Street Boxing Gym
- Summary: a much loved mixed combat sports gym welcoming to all
- Address: 25 Park Pl (Lower Manhattan)
- Google rating: 4.8
- Opening hours: M-F: 6am-1pm & 4-9pm, Sa: 9am-2pm, Su: 1am-1pm
- Pricing: $180 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: everyone!
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
OK, Church Street Boxing Gym isn’t technically in Brooklyn but I’ve included it as it’s just across the Brooklyn Bridge in Lower Manhattan, and because it’s a sick gym that you need to know about!
If I could design a boxing gym from scratch it would look exactly like Church Street: aged urban / industrial type building, boxing posters all over the walls, wooden floors. It’s awesome.
They’ve been coaching boxing (and Muay Thai and BJJ) here since they were founded way back in 1997. Today there’s up to 8 different classes every week day for you to chose from, including kids classes, advanced sparring, and ladies only. Beginners very welcome.
And if all that wasn’t enough, at $180 / month for unlimited access, it’s one of the best value boxing gyms in Brooklyn. They even give new members a set of boxing gloves. Love it.
Only good things to say about Church Street. If you can give it a try. Do. You won’t be disappointed.
4️⃣ Brotherhood Boxing
- Summary: a humble but mighty pure boxing gym
- Address: 82 Wyckoff Ave
- Google rating: 4.7
- Opening hours: M-F: 9am-9pm, Sa: 10am-1pm
- Pricing: $150 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: those wanting simple but effective
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Brotherhood Boxing is a no nonsense all-about-the-boxing type of place.
The facility is simple with boxes stacked on filing cabinets in the corner, but don’t let that fool you. The coaches are top notch. And the members come here to train hard.
They train plenty of amateur fighters at Brotherhood for competitive bouts so if that’s what you’re after then head coach Ray Cuadrado and his team will sort you out.
Classes – for both adults and kids – are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and evenings. Saturday afternoon also. Tuesday and Thursday are reserved for private sessions.
All in all, a very solid all round option. Worth a visit.
5️⃣ Raul’s Boxing House Club
- Summary: perfect place for ambitious young boxers
- Address: 4018 8th Ave
- Google rating: 4.8
- Opening hours: M-T: 10am-10pm, F: 10am-9pm, S-S: 11am-2pm
- Pricing: $200 / month (one class a day)
- Best for: competitive young boxers
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Raul’s places a big emphasis on youth training, and gets many kids involved in competitive amateur bouts. So if you’re youngish (under 25) then this place would be perfect for you.
Head coaches Raul and Fernando are extremely friendly, patient, and humble, and treat everyone in the gym like family.
Raul’s is as far from a high-end, fancy corporate boxing studio as you could imagine. Which is just how boxing gyms should be.
No need to have any experience when you turn up at Raul’s. As long as you’re willing to put the work in then they’ll show you the ropes and teach you proper boxing in no time.
If you want to compete, great. But there’s no pressure to do so. Many train here just to get in great shape and that’s totally fine.
The class schedule here is a bit all over the place though, and it looks like adults can only train in the evenings.
6️⃣ Underground Gym
- Summary: a gritty, dedicated pure boxing gym in south Brooklyn
- Address: 609 Avenue X
- Google rating: 4.8
- Opening hours: M-F: 8am-9pm, Su: 11am-12:30pm
- Pricing: $250 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: boxers of all ages and abilities
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Nestled down in south Brooklyn, Underground is the real deal. A pure, old school boxing gym, run by coaches with decades of experience and who are obsessed with the sport.
Head Coach Ilya, former head coach of the Israeli national boxing team, is a tough dude but always polite and respectful. He’ll put you through your paces and get the very best out of you. If you want to take selfies and get away with stroking a punch bag, stay away.
They have up to four 90 minute classes everyday, including classes for kids and teens. The adult group classes are at 8am and 7:30pm every weekday.
The sessions focus on mastering the fundamentals of boxing and will progress you all the way to sparring when the time is right. Private coaching is also available.
There’s nothing fancy about Underground but it’s gritty, real, and dedicated. If you’re serious about your boxing training and are looking for somewhere in south Brooklyn then it’s gonna be hard to better Underground.
The only reason they don’t get a 10/10 is that they don’t have more adult classes on offer and for $250/month they probably should.
7️⃣ Sweatbox
- Summary: Ideal for beginners. Not a boxercise studio but not quite a boxing gym either.
- Address: 229 46th St
- Google rating: 4.7
- Opening hours: M-F: 6am-10pm, Sa: 7am-3:30pm,
- Pricing: $30 / class
- Best for: beginners and fitness fanatics
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
I know that the name of this places makes it sound like a boxercise studio but it’s actually not.
Yes, they have a big emphasis on fitness, but they’ll also get you stuck into proper boxing technique, sparring, and even competition (if you’re up for it).
Everyone who works out here loves the place, in particular there’s a lot of praise heaped on trainers like Joel and Argenis who make every class motivating, unique, and an opportunity to learn real boxing.
They have up to 10 classes everyday (they work damn hard here!) for you to chose from so there should be something to fit even the busiest of NYC schedules.
Sweatbox is the ideal place if you want to get in great shape and ease yourself into boxing in a very friendly, un-intimidating atmosphere. But if you already have some serious boxing under your belt then it might not be enough for you.
As well as their location in Brooklyn, they also have a location on Staten Island if that helps.
8️⃣ Fight Factory
- Summary: a decent mixed combat sports facility
- Address: 2915 Ocean Parkway
- Google rating: 4.5
- Opening hours: M-F: 8am-10pm, Su: 9am-4pm
- Pricing: $240 / month (3 classes a week)
- Best for: those looking for varied combat training
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Fight Factory does a bit of everything: boxing, BJJ, Muay Thai, Karate, Judo, wrestling, gymnastics. There are even some trampolines there too…
So it’s definitely not one of those pure boxing gyms but they do have an extensive boxing schedule and 6 highly experienced boxing trainers on hand to make sure you’re getting the attention you need.
The space itself is pretty vast, well equipped and clean.
But at $240 per month for just 3 classes a week, if feels a little expensive. For that price you should be getting unlimited classes.
(And you have to pay cash each month which is a bit inconvenient if you ask me).
A good option if you want to get some variety in your combat training. Boxing is life, of course, but always worth trying something new every now and again!
Related articles:
- Should I Start Boxing? (7 Reasons Why Hell YES!)
- The Best Boxing Gyms in NYC
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Philadelphia
How to pick a Brooklyn 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 Brooklyn cost? 💰
- Monthly memberships: expect to pay around $200 / month, more or less, for a monthly membership. Not cheap, but worth it. Trust me.
- One-on-one personal training: Depending on the gym, costs are around $75 per hour as a minimum.
- Drop-in boxing classes for non-members: ~$25 per class, give or take.
- 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 🔔
You won’t struggle to find decent boxing gyms in Brooklyn. In fact, your biggest challenge will be picking just one. With Gleasons, Ardon, Church Street, and others, you’re spoiled for choice. Get me back to to NYC asap!
Happy fighting! 🥊🥊
“Boxing’s a poor man’s sport. We can’t afford to play golf or tennis. It is what it is. It’s kept so many kids off the street. It kept me off the street.”
Sugar Ray Leonard
